Tenuous
Weak alibis, one-scooter-for-four-hostels plans, and barely-there signals all hang by this adjective: holding, but only just.
Learn This WordMeaning
Weak and barely holding.
Memory trick
TENUOUS stretches TENUIS thin: hold it too hard and it snaps.
Examples
The link stays tenuous.
Their plan to share one scooter among four hostels was tenuous by February.
The suspect’s alibi grew tenuous with every follow-up question.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin tenuis "thin, slight." A thread stretched so thin you can see through the argument.
Usage Notes
SAT Words in Context favorite: tenuous links, tenuous claims, tenuous holds. Describes grip strength, literal or logical.
Real-life contexts
Use in analysis: "The evidence linking them is tenuous."
Use in stories: "He held the lead by a tenuous two points."
Use in science: "The signal was tenuous but real."
Common Mistakes
Tenuous is weak connection, not slight importance; a tenuous link may still matter hugely. Pronounce TEN-yoo-us, not ten-OO-us.
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Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
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