Relations are tenuous as peace talks resume between warring factions.
Source: tatoeba (278697)
Tenuous
/ˈtɛn.ju.əs/
Synonyms for "tenuous" (180 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (36)
Noun(1 words)
collapsing of civilization
Strong matches (54)
Related words (90)
microcosmicmicroscopicmistymolecularnebulousnegligiblenonadherentnonadhesivenoncoherentnoncohesiveopenpaltrypaperyphantomlikerarerarefiedreedyshadowyshakysketchy
Show 51 more words
sleazyslenderslenderishslightslight-madeslimslimmishslinkysmallspirituoussubatomicsubtilesubtlesveltesylphlikethinthin-bodiedthin-setthin-spunthinnedthinned-outthinnishthreadliketriflingtwiggyultramicroscopicunadhesiveuncoherentuncohesiveuncompactuncompressedunconnectedunconsolidatedunjoinedunrealunseeableunsubstantialuntenaciousvaguevaporouswasp waistedwasp-waistedwateredwatered downwatered-downwateryweakwillowywindywiredrawnwispy
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: fragile, thin, adulterated, aerial, air built.
- Sentence evidence is available for tenuous, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "tenuous".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "tenuous"
Keep "tenuous" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "tenuous" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "tenuous", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "tenuous" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesMore specific
11 entriesfragile inferenceloose associationmarginal relevancetenuous alliancetenuous fibertenuous filamenttenuous fundingtenuous market positiontenuous threadunsubstantiated claimweak hypothesis
Collocations
5 entriestenuous connectiontenuous evidencetenuous foundationtenuous linktenuous relationship
Inflections
2 entriesmore tenuousmost tenuous
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
The greatest wisdom has no shape; the greatest vessel is the latest to be completed; the greatest music has the most tenuous notes.
Source: tatoeba (720854)
Swadesh's glottochronology was based on the tenuous thesis that all languages have a core vocabulary that undergoes replacement at a constant rate.
Source: tatoeba (2085160)
You were trying to draw an extremely tenuous connection between cultures of two cities known for their animosity.
Source: tatoeba (2657217)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "tenuous"?
Closest matches include fragile, thin, adulterated, aerial, air built.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "tenuous"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.