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
1
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more tenuous
- Superlative
- most tenuous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The prosecution's case rested on _____ evidence at best.
Etymology
From Latin tenuis ("thin, slight") + -ous.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tenuous
See all rhymes for tenuous →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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