Synonyms for tenuous
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Fragile — thin in substance or consistency
fragile, flimsy, thin, delicate, gossamer, unconvincing, rare, frail, slender, slim UK, slight, feeble, subtile, gossamery, fine dated
2. Insubstantial
insubstantial, insignificant, ethereal, unreal, diaphanous formal, airy, gaseous, vaporous, gauzy, immaterial, unsubstantial dated
Definitions
- adj. 1
Thin in substance or consistency.
The aether was thought to be of tenuous strands.
- adj. 2
Insubstantial.
His argument was not convincing in the debate, considering how tenuous it was.
Example sentences
- delicate Oil on canvas can never paint a petal so delicate.
- fragile Fresh figs are very fragile and highly perishable.
- flimsy The flimsy cordon failed to keep back the protestors.
- gossamer Except for a few gossamer clouds, the sky was clear and blue.
- insignificant There is no such thing as an insignificant detail.
- insubstantial The judge found the evidence of his guilt insubstantial.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| tenuous | steady | |
| delicate | steady | |
| fragile | rising | |
| flimsy | rising | |
| gossamer | rising | |
| insignificant | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- fine1, rare1, thin1, slim1, airy2
- 5 letters
- frail1, gauzy
- 6 letters
- slight1, unreal2, feeble2, flimsy2
- 7 letters
- fragile2, slender2, gaseous3, subtile
- 8 letters
- delicate3, ethereal4, gossamer3, vaporous
- 9 letters
- gossamery
- 10 letters
- immaterial5, diaphanous4
- 12 letters
- unconvincing4
- 13 letters
- insignificant5, insubstantial4, unsubstantial
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (airy2 = 2 syllables).