less tenable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less tenable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, argument, or position that is becoming increasingly difficult to support or justify. Example: "As new evidence emerged, the theory became less tenable in the eyes of the scientific community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now, that balance seems less tenable.

The New Yorker

But it is a less and less tenable opinion.

The Guardian - Arts

But that is increasingly becoming a less tenable position.

The New York Times

But rising weekend ridership has made that approach less tenable.

The New York Times

The more communications and data are encrypted, the less tenable mass surveillance becomes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though he has stepped down temporarily, his position is now even less tenable.

The Guardian

But as games grow in size, that approach will become less tenable.

The Guardian - Tech

It made his own domestic political position even less tenable, Mr Abbas argued.

The Economist

She had been fired for reporting Thomas's actions toward her, making the Garden's defense less tenable.

The New York Times - Sports

The longer it remained on the market, the less tenable its financial situation became.

The New York Times

But the idea that a running mate can deliver votes has always been dubious, and it's even less tenable today.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less tenable" when you want to indicate that a position, argument, or situation is becoming increasingly difficult to defend or maintain due to changing circumstances or new information.

Common error

While "less tenable" is a perfectly valid phrase, avoid overusing it in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "unlikely" or "difficult to defend" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less tenable" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase. It describes the quality of something becoming harder to defend or justify. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase follows standard grammar rules and is widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less tenable" is a grammatically correct and widely used adjective phrase indicating a weakening position or argument. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its high frequency in news, science, and formal business contexts suggests its versatility. While alternatives like ""more questionable"" or ""less defensible"" exist, "less tenable" provides a concise and readily understood way to express diminishing validity. While overusing it in informal settings is something to be aware of, the phrase is undeniably useful in expressing complex arguments across a range of professional and academic fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less defensible

Highlights the difficulty in defending or justifying a particular stance.

more questionable

Emphasizes doubt and uncertainty, suggesting the position is open to questioning.

less sustainable

Focuses on the inability to maintain or continue a certain position or practice.

less plausible

Implies that something is becoming less believable or convincing.

less viable

Indicates a decrease in the practicality or feasibility of something.

increasingly difficult to justify

Emphasizes the growing challenge in providing a valid reason for a particular action or belief.

harder to maintain

Stresses the increasing difficulty in keeping a position or argument valid.

losing credibility

Highlights the diminishing believability or trustworthiness of a claim or position.

becoming unsustainable

Focuses on the process of something losing its ability to be maintained or supported.

weakening

A more general term indicating a decrease in strength or effectiveness.

FAQs

How can I use "less tenable" in a sentence?

You can use "less tenable" to describe a situation, argument, or position that is becoming increasingly difficult to support or justify. For example, "As new evidence emerged, the original theory became "more questionable"".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "less tenable"?

Alternatives include "less defensible", "less sustainable", or "more questionable", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "least tenable" instead of "less tenable"?

Yes, "least tenable" indicates the absolute lowest level of supportability, whereas "less tenable" simply means reducing in supportability compared to a previous state. They are used in slightly different contexts. For example, "His position is now the "least tenable" within the group" implies his position is the weakest.

What's the difference between "less tenable" and "less plausible"?

"Less tenable" suggests that something is becoming harder to defend or maintain, while "less plausible" means that something is becoming less believable or convincing. The two are similar but focus on different aspects: supportability vs. believability.