tenuous

ˈtɛnjuəs

Definition

Definition of tenuous - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

weak uncertainvery weak, uncertain, or lacking importance

His argument was tenuous at best.

flimsy

insubstantial

shaky

texture

Rare

very thin or fine

Rare

The tenuous thread could barely be seen..

filmy

gossamer

slender

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Origin of tenuous

Latin, tenuis (thin)

Terms with tenuous included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.

shirttail

relationship

tenuous connection or distant kinship

Examples of tenuous in a sentence

She held a tenuous grip on the slippery rope.
The tenuous wire snapped under pressure.
Her tenuous hair strands were barely noticeable.

View all translations of tenuous

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:ténu, délicat, ...
German:dünn, fein, ...
Italian:debole, sottile, ...
Spanish:tenue, fino, ...
Portuguese:ténue, fino, ...
Chinese:微弱的, 纤细, ...
Japanese:脆弱な, 細い, ...
Arabic:ضَعِيف, رفيع, ...
Hebrew:רָעוּעַ, דַקִּיק מְאֹד, ...
Russian:шаткий, тонкий, ...
Ukrainian:тендітний, тонкий, ...
Hindi:कमजोर, पतला, ...
Bengali:দুর্বল, পাতলা, ...
Catalan:feble, prim, ...
Czech:slabý, jemný, ...
Danish:svag, fin, ...
Dutch:zwak, dun, ...
Greek:ασθενής, λεπτός, ...
Hungarian:gyenge, vékony, ...
Khmer:ខ្សោយ, ស្តើងណាស់, ...
Korean:미약한, 가는, ...
Persian:سست, نازک, ...
Polish:wątły, cienki, ...
Portuguese (BR):frágil, fino, ...
Romanian:slab, subțire, ...
Swedish:svag, fin, ...
Thai:อ่อนแอ, บาง, ...
Turkish:zayıf, ince, ...
Vietnamese:mong manh, mỏng, ...

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “t”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.