tenuousness
- noun
- /ˈtɛnjʊəsnəs/
- For some researchers, these diverse stabs at therapy serve as evidence of the tenuousness of the pathology itself.
Examples
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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.
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She questioned the tenuousness of their friendship after such a long silence.
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The tenuousness of the bridge was evident during the storm, as it swayed precariously in the wind.
Synonyms
Lack of physical or mental strength that makes someone less able to act
Something that is easy to break or damage, like glass
Lack of strong, detailed ideas or proof in a text
Lack of power to change things
A thin, small body that looks weak
A lack of strength in an argument or evidence
The state of having little energy or force
Being weak and not well made so it breaks or fails easily
A small or weak quality that shows little real strength
A lack of being real, strong, or convincing
A small amount that is not enough
A state of being small, weak, or not important
A small amount of strength or force
Weak health that often appears in older people
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.