as in fragile
lacking strength, permanence, or resilience
The countries formed a tenuous political alliance. The moon has a tenuous atmosphere that frequently fluctuates in thickness.
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Recent Examples of tenuous
Instead, South Sudan’s tenuous peace is on the verge of collapse, with Mr. Machar accused of inciting an antigovernment rebellion led by a militia known as the White Army.
—
Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Only two countries have demonstrated the capability to navigate the tenuous atmosphere of Mars, land successfully and conduct significant science: the USA and China.
—Bruce Jakosky, Space.com, 14 May 2025
Long Beach Opera’s tenuous local premiere of that version was followed by a powerful concert performance at the Ojai Music Festival with the Atlanta Symphony conducted by Robert Spano and starring Dawn Upshaw, the forces who made the work’s celebrated recording.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
As economic uncertainties mount and corporate stability feels increasingly tenuous, a quiet revolution is taking place among millennials and Gen Z: the rise of DIY businesses.
—Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenuous
Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Only two countries have demonstrated the capability to navigate the tenuous atmosphere of Mars, land successfully and conduct significant science: the USA and China.
—Bruce Jakosky, Space.com, 14 May 2025
Long Beach Opera’s tenuous local premiere of that version was followed by a powerful concert performance at the Ojai Music Festival with the Atlanta Symphony conducted by Robert Spano and starring Dawn Upshaw, the forces who made the work’s celebrated recording.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
As economic uncertainties mount and corporate stability feels increasingly tenuous, a quiet revolution is taking place among millennials and Gen Z: the rise of DIY businesses.
—Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenuous
Adjective
-
As neo-colonial dynamics among the expatriate community unravel, this fragile bond becomes his only refuge from an impending collapse into solitude or barbarism.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 May 2025
-
For Testers The focus shifts from maintaining fragile scripts tied to UI elements to ensuring robust, conceptual test coverage.—
Asad Khan,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Injuries can range from a slight stretching of the ligament to a complete tear, where the knee becomes unstable.—
Paul McClure
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2025
-
By virtue of no state income tax, Florida, Tampa Bay, Vegas, Dallas and Nashville do enjoy a slight competitive advantage, but the first 14 Cup champions of the cap era didn’t share that same edge.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenuous. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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