tenuous possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"tenuous possibility" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a possibility or idea that is weak or uncertain. Example: "There is a tenuous possibility that we may be able to reach our sales goals if we implement these strategies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A tenuous possibility is that the military has not gone on the offensive because of the ceasefire order, although a recent statement from the defence headquarters said that a "highly coordinated air bombardment is already yielding required results in the mission to repel the unwarranted attacks on citizens" in the north-east.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

On the other hand, the formal diagnosis of MCI, with its implications that the person may develop dementia, may have a grave impact on the psychological state of the individual, at a stage when prediction of outcome is tenuous and possibilities of useful interventions are meager.

Clinical interventions in aging

The meaning of these isolated cases is entirely unclear, but Mr. Velasquez-Manoff follows the tenuous thread of possibility out to the horizon: Possibly, autism can be averted with something "as simple as a probiotic given to Mom" during pregnancy, he notes.

The New York Times - Science

He writes about a gay world of uncertain possibilities and tenuous connections, 'where happiness can depend on the glance of a stranger, caught and held.' He is, as Stephen Pickles notes in a more general context, 'fascinated by what's over the wall, a secret garden thing'.

The Guardian - Books

However, causality remains tenuous because of the strong possibility of reverse causation (healthy individuals selectively participate in social activities).

Social Science & Medicine

(For that matter, the plot's tenuous implausibilities call into question the very possibility of recovery; its realm of fantasy seems to strain after secular miracles).

The New Yorker

On Wednesday, political prognosticator Nate Silver wrote that "with Donald Trump's path to 1,237 delegates looking tenuous," a contested convention is "a real possibility".

Vice

There may a tenuous balance between the two possible results.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

T.C.U.'s decision does not mean the death of Big East football, but there are a lot of possibilities that make its survival tenuous.

The New York Times - Sports

Is it because his grasp of Stoic physics is so tenuous that he must be open to the possibility that Epicurean physics is true (Rist 1982, 43, Annas 2004, 116)?

SEP

Thus, arguments for the claim that incoherence is generally irrational that begin with the claim that it is irrational in forced betting situations fail to even get off the ground, let alone show that it is irrational outside of such situations, where the connection between incoherence and the possibility of losses is even more tenuous.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with verbs like 'suggests', 'remains' or 'represents' to maintain a neutral and objective reporting tone.

Common error

Avoid using "tenuous possibility" when you simply mean that an event is unlikely to happen soon. In such cases, use "remote possibility". "tenuous possibility" specifically implies that the reasoning or the link supporting the possibility is thin or weak.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tenuous possibility" functions as a complex noun phrase consisting of a qualitative adjective and a head noun. According to Ludwig, it is used to quantify the strength of a potential outcome or logical connection. It typically serves as the subject or the direct object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "tenuous possibility" is a perfectly correct and highly effective phrase for describing situations where a potential outcome or connection is fragile or poorly supported. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical validity and its widespread use among elite publications. While it is less frequent than common idioms like "slight chance", it offers a level of precision and academic rigor that is ideal for formal reporting, scientific analysis and philosophical inquiry. Use it to signal that while something is not impossible, its foundation is remarkably thin.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remote possibility

suggests the event is far off or highly unlikely in terms of statistical probability

faint possibility

indicates a lack of strength in the perception or evidence supporting the outcome

scant possibility

implies that the amount of possibility available is almost non-existent

slight chance

offers a less formal and more common alternative suitable for everyday speech

slim prospect

focuses specifically on future opportunities or outcomes rather than abstract connections

marginal possibility

indicates the possibility exists only at the very edges of being likely

weak likelihood

replaces the evocative adjective with a more direct and basic descriptive term

vague potential

suggests that the possibility is not well-defined or is poorly understood

unlikely scenario

shifts the focus from the existence of the possibility to the descriptive nature of the result

fragile possibility

emphasizes the delicate nature of the situation and how easily it could disappear

FAQs

How do I use "tenuous possibility" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a weak link, such as: "There remains a "tenuous possibility" that the two events are related, though evidence is scarce."

What is the difference between "tenuous possibility" and "remote possibility"?

While both mean unlikely, a "remote possibility" usually refers to low probability, whereas a "tenuous possibility" implies that the connection or logic behind the possibility is very weak.

What can I say instead of "tenuous possibility"?

Depending on your context, you might use alternatives like "faint possibility", "slight chance" or "scant possibility".

Is "tenuous possibility" considered formal English?

Yes, it is a sophisticated phrase frequently found in academic journals like ScienceDirect and high-quality news outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian.