adjective

tenuous

TEHN-yoo-uhs

Tenuous (adjective) means Weak, flimsy, or barely holding together; lacking a solid basis. Example: “The prosecution's case rested on tenuous evidence at best.”

adjective

Weak, flimsy, or barely holding together; lacking a solid basis.

"The prosecution's case rested on tenuous evidence at best."

"Their friendship had become tenuous after years of drifting apart."

How to use tenuous

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWeak and shaky — barely holding together, whether that's an argument, a connection, or a situation.

Common pairings

a tenuous link tenuous evidence a tenuous grasp

Word forms

more tenuous comparative, most tenuous superlative

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The prosecution's case rested on _____ evidence at best.

Etymology

From Latin tenuis ("thin, slight") + -ous.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for tenuous

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tedious spurious infamous

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Frequently asked questions

What does “tenuous” mean?

The word “tenuous” means weak, flimsy, or barely holding together; lacking a solid basis. In plain terms, weak and shaky — barely holding together, whether that's an argument, a connection, or a situation.

How do you pronounce “tenuous”?

“Tenuous” is pronounced TEHN-yoo-uhs (/ˈtɛn.ju.əs/ in IPA).

How do you use “tenuous” in a sentence?

Here is “tenuous” used in a sentence: “The prosecution's case rested on tenuous evidence at best.”

What part of speech is “tenuous”?

“Tenuous” is an adjective.

Where does the word “tenuous” come from?

The word “tenuous” comes from Latin. From Latin tenuis ("thin, slight") + -ous.

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