tenable
/ˈtɛnəb(ə)l
/adjective
1Able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection: such a simplistic approach is no longer tenable...
- In my view, these grounds of objection are not legally tenable.
- The question is genuinely debatable, with tenable argument supporting each side.
- It is tenable to object to embryo research on ethical grounds.
Synonyms
defensible, justifiable, defendable, supportable, sustainable, maintainable, arguable, able to hold water, reasonable, rational, sound, viable, workable, plausible, credible, believable, conceivable, acceptable, imaginable
2(Of an office, position, scholarship, etc.) able to be held or used: a scholarship of £200 per annum tenable for three years...
- The government is offering the scholarships in physical education tenable at Cuban universities for the academic year 2004 / 2005.
- A draw was held for two half scholarships, tenable at the Adult Education College.
- The badminton ace has won a three-year International Badminton Federation scholarship tenable in China.
Derivatives
tenability
- The writings of the various authors were examined and evaluated to assess the current tenability of the author's thought.
- One need not evaluate the scientific evidence for the assertions made to question the tenability of the propositions.
- We have yet to examine a few other challenges to the tenability of the theory.
tenableness
Origin
Late 16th century: from French, from tenir 'to hold', from Latin tenere.