Tenuous Meaning, Sentence Examples and Tenuousness

Tenuous (adjective). weak, slight or not firmly supported or established.

Example: The link between the two events was tenuous, so we looked for more evidence.

Pronunciation guide: TEN-yoo-uhs. Capital letters show the stressed syllable.

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What does tenuous mean?

Tenuous often describes a connection, argument, claim or position that has little strength or support. A tenuous explanation may be possible but unconvincing. A tenuous hold on a position is insecure and could be lost.

The word can also mean physically thin or slight, though abstract uses are especially useful in everyday reading. It comes from Latin tenuis, associated with thinness or slightness.

Tenuous in a sentence

• The article offered only a tenuous connection between the two events.
• Her argument rested on tenuous evidence.
• After a long absence, he had a tenuous grasp of the subject.
• The temporary arrangement gave the team a tenuous sense of stability.
• The family’s connection with the town had become tenuous over time.

Make clear what is weak. “The link was tenuous because it depended on one unconfirmed detail” explains more than “The link was tenuous” alone.

Tenuous relationship and tenuous link

A tenuous relationship may be weak or fragile. In a research discussion, “a tenuous relationship between two variables” means the proposed association has little support or is weak. In a personal context, it may describe a connection that is barely maintained.

A tenuous link is a slight or uncertain connection. It does not necessarily mean there is no connection at all. Similarly, calling an argument tenuous questions its support; it does not by itself prove that its conclusion is false.

Tenuously, tenuousness and word choice

Tenuously is the adverb: “The examples are only tenuously connected.” Tenuousness is the noun: “The reviewer noted the tenuousness of the argument.”

Compare tentative, meaning provisional or not yet settled: “We made a tentative plan.” A tentative plan is not automatically weakly supported; it may simply be awaiting confirmation. Tenuous focuses on weakness or slightness instead.

To practise, describe a claim or connection and name the missing support: “The explanation remained tenuous because ___.” Avoid using an abstract label where a concrete word such as thin or weak would be clearer.

Practise tenuous: three quick questions

Try each question before opening its answer. If a question asks you to write a sentence, your own correct example is welcome.

Question 1

Does a tenuous argument necessarily have a false conclusion?

Question 2

Which is the noun: tenuously or tenuousness?

Question 3

A meeting date is awaiting confirmation. Which is usually clearer: tentative or tenuous?

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Watch How to Pronounce Tenuous by Pronunciation Guide on YouTube.

Compare these words next: Pragmatic meaning and practice and Hubris meaning and practice.

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Dictionary reference: Merriam-Webster: Tenuous. The examples and practice questions on this page are written for English Skill Studio.