untenable hypothesis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "untenable hypothesis" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a theory or idea that cannot be supported or maintained due to lack of evidence or logical reasoning. Example: "The researchers found that the data collected did not support the theory, leading them to conclude that it was an untenable hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Alternatively, adjuvant therapies may be more effective in the elderly, although this seems a rather untenable hypothesis.

British Journal of Cancer

Where that is obtained, the peer review is more likely to rebut any scientifically untoward or untenable hypothesis and arrive at a successful review.

Environmental Health Perspectives

While it is nice that they are beginning to concede the importance of lipids, this has every appearance of a desperate attempt to save a totally untenable hypothesis from fatal criticism, rather than a well-thought out theory.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

For instance, untenable hypotheses based on naïve group selection are published remarkably often.

Evolutionary Applications

This is an untenable theory.

The New York Times

Indeed, the strongly supported placement of the putatively foreign Plantago copy of all three mitochondrial genes with Convolvulaceae (Solanales), convincingly apart from the native Plantago homologs - which are well embedded within multiple strongly supported lineages of Lamiales - makes the numt phylogenetic artifact hypothesis untenable in the case of Plantago.

BMC Biology

These doubts were soon substantiated when in 1913 Rozenthal and Plancherel proved that the hypothesis was untenable for realistic gas models.

SEP

We review the abundant data concerning the roles of both the olfactory and the vomeronasal systems in the processing of both pheromones and other odorants, demonstrating that this 'equivalency hypothesis' is untenable.

Trends in Neurosciences

In these goals, she succeeded; however, within a few years, experiments and further modeling showed that the cyclol hypothesis was untenable as a model for globular proteins.

Wikipedia

A common misconception is that they were so named because they were sold for the price of a guinea coin; this hypothesis is untenable, because the guinea was first struck in England in 1663, and William Harvey used the term "Ginny-pig" as early as 1653.

Wikipedia

Sustained perseverative responding over many sessions has also been observed after lead exposure (Rice and Karpinski 1988); therefore, this hypothesis is not untenable.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "untenable hypothesis" when you want to convey that a hypothesis is not only incorrect but also cannot be defended or maintained given the evidence. Be sure the context clearly demonstrates the reasons for its untenability.

Common error

Avoid using "untenable hypothesis" when the hypothesis is merely questionable or needs further testing. Reserve it for situations where the evidence strongly contradicts the hypothesis, making it impossible to maintain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "untenable hypothesis" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "untenable" modifies the noun "hypothesis". It's used to characterize a specific kind of hypothesis as being indefensible or unsustainable. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "untenable hypothesis" is a phrase used to describe a hypothesis that cannot be defended or maintained due to a lack of evidence or logical flaws. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and proper usage. While relatively rare, it appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly justifies the claim that the hypothesis is truly indefensible. Consider alternatives like "unsustainable theory" or "indefensible hypothesis" to fine-tune the nuance. Remember to use "untenable hypothesis" when the hypothesis is genuinely impossible to maintain, as per Ludwig's examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsustainable theory

Focuses on the idea that the theory cannot be maintained or continued over time.

indefensible hypothesis

Highlights the lack of valid arguments or evidence to support the hypothesis.

implausible hypothesis

Emphasizes the lack of believability or likelihood in the hypothesis.

unsupportable hypothesis

Directly states that there is no basis to support the hypothesis.

flawed hypothesis

Highlights that the hypothesis contains errors or weaknesses in its structure or reasoning.

weak hypothesis

Indicates the hypothesis lacks strength or convincing evidence.

invalid hypothesis

States that the hypothesis is not valid or correct based on available information.

baseless assumption

Shifts from 'hypothesis' to 'assumption', highlighting the lack of foundation.

discredited theory

Indicates that the theory was once accepted but is no longer considered valid.

rejected hypothesis

Signals that the hypothesis has been tested and proven incorrect.

FAQs

How to use "untenable hypothesis" in a sentence?

You can use "untenable hypothesis" to describe a theory that cannot be defended with current evidence. For example: "The researcher concluded that the initial theory was an untenable hypothesis after analyzing the experimental data."

What can I say instead of "untenable hypothesis"?

You can use alternatives like "unsustainable theory", "indefensible hypothesis", or "implausible hypothesis" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the term "untenable hypothesis"?

It's appropriate when a hypothesis has been thoroughly tested and shown to be fundamentally flawed or impossible to support with the available evidence. It implies a stronger rejection than simply saying a hypothesis is 'incorrect'.

What's the difference between "untenable hypothesis" and "rejected hypothesis"?

"Untenable hypothesis" suggests that the hypothesis is inherently flawed and cannot be defended, while "rejected hypothesis" implies that the hypothesis was tested and disproven. A hypothesis can be rejected after testing but may still have some defensible aspects, while an untenable one is fundamentally weak from the outset.