What does tenable mean?

Definitions for tenable
ˈtɛn ə bəlten·able

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word tenable.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. tenable, well-foundedadjective

    based on sound reasoning or evidence

    "well-founded suspicions"

Wiktionary

  1. tenableadjective

    capable of being maintained or justified; well-founded

    Back in the 1800s, many did not consider Darwin's theory of evolution to be tenable at all.

  2. tenableadjective

    capable of being defended against assault or attack; defensible

  3. Etymology: From the tenable, from tenir; compare tenible.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Tenableadjective

    Such as may be maintained against opposition; such as may be held against attacks.

    Etymology: tenable, French.

    The town was strong of itself, and wanted no industry to fortify and make it tenable. Francis Bacon, War with Spain.

    Sir William Ogle seized upon the castle, and put it into a tenable condition. Edward Hyde.

    Infidelity has been driven out of all its outworks: the atheist has not found his post tenable, and is therefore retired into deism. Joseph Addison, Spect. №. 186.

Wikipedia

  1. Tenable

    Tenable is a British game show, presented by Warwick Davis and Sally Lindsay, airing on ITV since 14 November 2016. On each episode, five contestants attempt to win up to £125,000 by filling in lists of 10 items each. A celebrity version, Tenable All Stars, aired sporadically in 2019.

ChatGPT

  1. tenable

    Tenable refers to an argument, position or theory that can be defended or justified on logical or reasonable grounds. It is something that is believable, maintainable, or able to stand scrutiny.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Tenableadjective

    capable of being held, naintained, or defended, as against an assailant or objector, or againts attempts to take or process; as, a tenable fortress, a tenable argument

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Tenable

    ten′a-bl, adj. capable of being retained, kept, or defended.—ns. Tenabil′ity, Ten′ableness, the state or quality of being tenable. [Fr. tenable, from tenir—L. tenēre, to hold.]

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. tenable

    Such as may be maintained against opposition; such as may be held against attack.

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of tenable in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of tenable in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of tenable in a Sentence

  1. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirbydistanced:

    It is simply not clear to us that there is substantive rationale for it, we will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland's proposal is a tenable one.

  2. Hogan Gidley:

    John Bolton's priorities and policies just don't line up with the President's and any sitting president has the right to put someone in that position that can carry out his agenda. That became no longer tenable so the President made a change.

  3. Judge Brenda Penny:

    Suspension is in the best interests of Britney Spears, the current situation is not tenable.

  4. President Uhuru Kenyatta:

    None of these options is tenable, our county must live within its means.

  5. John Fitzgerald Kennedy:

    I hear it said that West Berlin is militarily untenable-and so was Bastogne, and so, in fact, was Stalingrad. Any danger spot is tenable if men-brave men-will make it so.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

tenable#10000#72295#100000

Translations for tenable

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"tenable." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Nov. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/tenable>.

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