untenable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "untenable" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective with the meaning of not able to be defended, maintained, or upheld. Example sentence: His reasoning was so flawed that his argument became untenable.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And even if you start a BBC career self-describing as working class, a few years later, outlook and circumstance can alter to a degree that renders the label untenable.

The Guardian

This is untenable; the new government must act swiftly to arrest this decline or risk a crisis in both health and social care.

The Guardian

Sure, there are cases where a manager's position has become untenable and a change has to be made, but from my experience and understanding, with a bit more effort from the club very few struggling relationships are irreparable.

The Guardian - Sport

"Therefore, it is with great regret and disappointment that I have formed the view that the events of the past few weeks places the centre in an untenable position as it lacks the support needed across the university and the broader academic community to meet its contractual obligations and deliver value for money for Australian taxpayers," he said.

The Guardian

UWA handed back the funding and dropped its connection with Lomborg, saying that lack of support among its academics made the centre untenable.

The Guardian

The FAI felt that Trapattoni's position had become untenable; that the players were no longer responding to his methods, which had brought qualified success during his tenure.

The Guardian - Sport

However, Brighton & Hove is hemmed in on one side by the sea and on the other by a national park, making dispersal solutions untenable.

The Guardian - Money

The exchange was one of the key incidents in Carmody's falling out with his colleagues, which has led to his offer to resign to end an "untenable" situation.

The Guardian

But an ageing population means the demands on the NHS will soon be untenable.

The Guardian

People are leaving the countryside to the cities driven by poverty, the same way people leave poor countries to go to rich countries, simply because their situation is untenable," the Nigerien leader said.

The Guardian

He provided the government and Parliament with the flawed and untenable argument that war with Iraq was justified on the grounds that the UN Security Council had authorised the use of force.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "untenable" to describe positions, arguments, or situations that are impossible to defend or maintain due to logical flaws, lack of evidence, or practical difficulties.

Common error

Avoid using "untenable" in situations where "difficult" or "challenging" would be more appropriate. "Untenable" implies a complete lack of viability, not just a high degree of difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "untenable" primarily functions to describe something—typically a position, argument, or situation—that cannot be defended or maintained. Ludwig AI shows examples where "untenable" modifies nouns to convey a state of indefensibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

28%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "untenable" is a versatile adjective used to express that something cannot be defended or maintained, often due to inherent flaws or external pressures. Ludwig AI's analysis highlights its frequent usage in news, business, and scientific contexts, signifying a neutral to formal tone. When seeking alternatives, consider phrases like "indefensible position" or "unsustainable situation" to convey similar meanings. Use "untenable" judiciously, reserving it for situations where the impossibility of defense is clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indefensible position

Focuses on the lack of justification for the position.

unsustainable situation

Highlights the inability of the situation to continue.

impossible to maintain

Emphasizes the difficulty in preserving or upholding something.

cannot be justified

Stresses the lack of valid reasons to support something.

flawed reasoning

Highlights the presence of errors or weaknesses in the logical process.

groundless argument

Indicates the lack of factual or logical support for the argument.

unsupportable claim

Focuses on the inability to provide evidence or validation for the assertion.

invalid premise

Points to a fundamental error in the foundation of the argument.

weak foundation

Highlights the shaky or fragile nature of the basis for something.

illogical stance

Emphasizes the lack of coherent reasoning behind the position.

FAQs

How to use "untenable" in a sentence?

Use "untenable" to describe a position, argument, or situation that cannot be defended or maintained. For example, "The politician's position on the issue became "untenable" after the new evidence was presented."

What can I say instead of "untenable"?

You can use alternatives like "indefensible", "unsustainable", or "impossible to maintain" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "untenable" or "tenuous"?

"Untenable" means indefensible or not viable, while "tenuous" means weak or flimsy. Choose the word that best reflects the degree of weakness or lack of support. A "tenuous" argument may still be somewhat defensible, but an "untenable" one is not.

What makes a position "untenable"?

A position becomes "untenable" when it can no longer be logically defended or practically maintained. This often occurs due to new evidence, changing circumstances, or inherent flaws in the initial reasoning.