tenuousness
1
8.1
- noun
- /ˈtɛnjʊəsnəs/
- For some researchers, these diverse stabs at therapy serve as evidence of the tenuousness of the pathology itself.
Examples
-
These records also highlight the pluralistic character of life in the American West and the tenuousness of the nation's supposed Manifest Destiny.
Academic text (1991) -
The tenuousness of the argument notwithstanding, we may still charitably try to follow the spirit of de Vaux's argument rather than his actual reasoning, and come up with a more interesting and perhaps a more coherent product.
Academic text (1998) -
"That will demonstrate the tenuousness of the current Finnish regime and its basic failure as a European state."
Fiction book (1996) -
Zubok and Pleshakov seem not to worry that their readers may not be aware of the tenuousness of their findings.
Academic text (1999) -
His census also masked the tenuousness of lay commitment to Anglican worship and practice, the vagaries of ecclesiastical subordination, and deep-seated antagonisms toward the establishment.
Academic text (2006) -
The tenuousness of the rope made it difficult to climb the steep cliff safely.
-
She questioned the tenuousness of their friendship after such a long silence.
-
The tenuousness of the bridge was evident during the storm, as it swayed precariously in the wind.
Synonyms
35
1.4
Lack of physical or mental strength that makes someone less able to act
16
5.2
Something that is easy to break or damage, like glass
1
7.9
Lack of power to change things
1
5.2
A lack of strength in an argument or evidence
1
4.2
Lack of strong, detailed ideas or proof in a text
1
8.0
A small amount of strength or force
1
4.4
Being weak and not well made so it breaks or fails easily
1
9.2
A lack of being real, strong, or convincing
1
6.1
A thin, small body that looks weak
1
7.0
A state of being small, weak, or not important
1
5.1
Weak health that often appears in older people
1
9.9
A small or weak quality that shows little real strength
1
3.7
The state of having little energy or force
A small amount that is not enough
Antonyms
How Substantial
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Tenuousness comes from the Latin root tenu- meaning 'thin'. A helpful way to remember its figurative use is to think of a 'thin' or shaky link that can break, which is why tenuousness means weakness or lack of real strength.