untenable basis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "untenable basis" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a foundation or reasoning that is not sustainable or defensible. Example: "The argument presented by the defendant was built on an untenable basis, making it difficult to support in court."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Court of Appeal's decision is untenable on that basis alone.

Forbes

President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Vice Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee William C. Dudley has argued that a global financial system regulated on a largely national basis is untenable for supporting a world economy with global financial firms.

Wikipedia

These virtual spaces are swelling to new and untenable sizes on a daily basis.

Huffington Post

What I'm saying is that Dastyari's position on the basis of what we know is completely untenable," the attorney general said.

The Guardian

However that decision backfired disastrously when the ECB judged that Pietersen's refusal to work with Moores made the position of both untenable, leaving Strauss to pick up the reins on a permanent basis for the tour of West Indies in early 2009 in a new partnership with Andy Flower, who initially succeeded Moores on a temporary basis.

The Guardian - Sport

On that basis it appears to me that his position is now looking untenable".

The Guardian - Sport

This basis for distinguishing secular instructional materials and secular textbooks is simply untenable, and is inconsistent with many of our more recent decisions concerning state aid to parochial schools.

Cornell University

However, when the two diagnostic tests have a similar biological basis, as is often the case, the conditional independence assumption is untenable [18].

Plosone

Le Pen's vision of Europe appears particularly untenable: it denies fundamental principles, such as free movement, the postulate of non-discrimination on the basis of nationality, or the primacy of EU law over national law.

Forbes

Unless Mr. Obama wants to assert the untenable position that the war on terror or the war on Al Qaeda continue everywhere and indefinitely, then the legal basis for further indefinite detention will end.

The New York Times

This view is untenable.

Trends in Neurosciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "untenable basis", ensure that you clearly articulate why the foundation or reasoning is unsustainable or indefensible. Providing specific examples or evidence will strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "untenable basis" for minor disagreements or weak points. Reserve it for situations where the foundation is fundamentally flawed and cannot be reasonably supported.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "untenable basis" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the quality of the noun (e.g., argument, position, theory) as being unsustainable or indefensible. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

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News & Media

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Less common in

Science

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Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "untenable basis" serves to describe something lacking a solid foundation, making it unsustainable or indefensible. Though grammatically sound and recognized by Ludwig AI, it's infrequent. When using "untenable basis", articulate the specific reasons for its weakness. Alternatives such as ""unsustainable rationale"" or ""indefensible premise"" may be used for nuanced emphasis. It's best suited for formal contexts, and overusing it in trivial situations should be avoided. The phrase's aim is to challenge claims and ideas by exposing their flawed foundations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsustainable rationale

This alternative replaces "basis" with "rationale", emphasizing the reasoning behind something being unsustainable.

indefensible premise

This phrase uses "indefensible" instead of "untenable", focusing on the lack of justification for the starting point.

flawed foundation

This alternative shifts the focus to the "foundation" being flawed, implying a structural weakness.

weak justification

This phrase highlights the weakness in the attempt to provide reasons or evidence.

shaky grounds

Using "shaky grounds" emphasizes the instability and precariousness of the foundation.

baseless argument

This focuses on the argument lacking a foundation in facts or evidence.

unsupportable claim

This alternative focuses on the claim being impossible to defend or justify.

invalid reasoning

Here, the emphasis is on the reasoning process being flawed and leading to an incorrect conclusion.

groundless assertion

This phrase suggests that the statement is made without any factual basis or support.

unjustifiable reason

Focuses on the reason provided not being able to be defended.

FAQs

How can I use "untenable basis" in a sentence?

You can use "untenable basis" to describe an argument, theory, or position that lacks a solid foundation and is therefore difficult to defend. For example: "The defendant's argument was built on an "untenable basis", making it unlikely to succeed in court."

What are some alternatives to saying "untenable basis"?

Alternatives to "untenable basis" include "unsustainable rationale", "indefensible premise", or "flawed foundation". The best choice depends on the specific context and the aspect you want to emphasize.

What does it mean for something to be based on an "untenable basis"?

If something is based on an "untenable basis", it means that the foundation or reasoning behind it is weak, flawed, or impossible to defend. This makes the entire argument or position questionable and easily challenged.

Is "untenable basis" a formal or informal expression?

"Untenable basis" is generally considered a formal expression, suitable for academic, professional, or news-related contexts. It is less common in informal conversation.