tenuous feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tenuous feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling that is weak, fragile, or not firmly established, often conveying a sense of uncertainty or instability. Example: "She had a tenuous feeling about the outcome of the meeting, unsure if her ideas would be well received."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Any tenuous feeling of security wouldn't have been helped by Michael Wilshaw, the head of Ofsted's statement that children's services directors are spending too much time at conferences and away from their real work, or Trowler's argument that the professional leadership of children's social work services should be held by assistant directors.

The Guardian

With one question, Dr. Gale had shattered my brittle confidence and my tenuous feeling of belonging at Duke.

Huffington Post

To me, it's a lot to do with a tenuous feeling of 'interference' and I want there to be a sense of duality between our digital experience and our lived experience.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Few moments on "Lorraine," her sixth album, escape feeling tenuous.

The New York Times - Arts

The outcome often feels tenuous.

Huffington Post

All of this feels tenuous, she laments.

Huffington Post

As folk rock became the trend of the moment, however, its socially critical stance was quickly broadened and diluted, and the relationship between the music and its traditional sources became more tenuous, a matter more of "feeling" than of strict reverence for the past.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Anastasia being told to keep her eyes down, sit on the floor with her palms up or succumbing to lashes -- taps into women's feelings about our tenuous sense of power in the world.

Huffington Post

Some of Powell's psychoanalysis into the possible roots of that feeling of inadequacy seems tenuous, like the observation that "Benjamin's childhood geographical environment and the tensions within his family both fostered the sense of apartness which is a prerequisite of creativity".

The New York Times - Books

We don't know if these moments ever happened, or how they happened, but we feel the force of them anyway — hovering at some remove from any life, attached to autobiography by tenuous threads, searing into us with feelings whose attachments to reality we can't decisively delineate.

The New Yorker

However tenuous and however hippy dippy that sounds, "feeling" has a lot to do with why people by CE devices.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tenuous feeling" to describe a sense that is not strongly supported by evidence or experience, conveying a sense of vulnerability or uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "tenuous feeling" to describe a strong or overwhelming emotion. The phrase is most effective when conveying a sense of subtlety or fragility, not intensity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tenuous feeling" functions as a noun phrase, where "tenuous" modifies the noun "feeling". It describes the quality or nature of the feeling, indicating that it is weak, uncertain, or not firmly established. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tenuous feeling" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a weak, fragile, or uncertain emotion. Ludwig AI indicates its acceptability for use in written English. Its rarity suggests a more deliberate or nuanced choice than more common alternatives. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, the phrase conveys a sense of instability or lack of conviction. When using "tenuous feeling", consider its subtle implications and ensure it accurately reflects the intended degree of uncertainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delicate feeling

Emphasizes the fragility and easiness to be disrupted of the feeling.

uncertain feeling

Highlights the lack of confidence or assurance associated with the feeling.

fragile feeling

Stresses the vulnerability and susceptibility of the feeling to being damaged.

weak feeling

Indicates a lack of strength or intensity in the emotion.

tenuous sense

Shifts the focus slightly from emotion to perception or awareness, implying a weak connection.

shaky feeling

Implies the instability and unreliability of the emotion.

subtle feeling

Indicates a feeling that is not immediately obvious or easily perceived.

vulnerable feeling

Highlights the susceptibility of the individual experiencing the feeling.

scant feeling

Suggests that the feeling barely exists, or is present only in a minimal degree.

unstable feeling

Focuses on the changing, fluctuating nature of the feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "tenuous feeling" in a sentence?

You can use "tenuous feeling" to describe a weak or uncertain emotion. For example: "She had a "tenuous feeling" about the success of the project".

What's a similar phrase to "tenuous feeling"?

Alternatives include "delicate feeling", "fragile feeling", or "uncertain feeling", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "tenuous feeling" formal or informal?

"Tenuous feeling" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in writing than in casual conversation.

What does "tenuous" mean?

"Tenuous" means weak, slight, or not substantial. A ""tenuous feeling"" is therefore a feeling that isn't strong or firmly established.