tenuous

/ˈtenjuəs/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɛnjəwəs] /ˈtenjuəs/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɛnjəwəs] /ˈten-yə-wəs How to pronounce tenuous (audio) -yü-əs/ (ame, mw)

tenuous — adjective

  • tenuouspositive
  • more tenuouscomparative
  • most tenuoussuperlative

1. so weak, thin, or lacking in real evidence that something may not truly exist at

1.形容詞B2
釋義

so weak, thin, or lacking in real evidence that something may not truly exist at all — used about connections, arguments, hopes, and situations

例句

The lawyer's argument rested on a tenuous link between the two events.

collocation: tenuous link

Darius knew his chances of getting the job were tenuous at best.

collocation: tenuous at best

同義詞
  • flimsy

    more informal; suggests poor quality or lack of solid evidence

  • shaky

    emphasises instability and likelihood of failing

  • fragile

    stresses how easily something could break or collapse

  • weak

    more general; does not carry the sense of 'barely existing'

反義詞
  • solid

    firm and well-founded

  • strong

    having power and substance

  • substantial

    based on real, meaningful evidence or grounds

文法句型

tenuous + noun (connection, link, relationship, evidence, etc.)

be/seem/remain + tenuous

用法筆記

Typically modifies abstract nouns: connection, link, relationship, evidence, argument, grasp, hold, lead, chance, hope. Subject is rarely a person.

常見錯誤

❌The coffee was tenuous.
✅The coffee was weak.
💡'tenuous' is not used for the physical strength of substances; it describes connections, ideas, or situations that barely exist.

2. extremely thin, fine, or delicate in physical form, so that the thing can break,

2.形容詞B2
釋義

extremely thin, fine, or delicate in physical form, so that the thing can break, tear, or give way with very little force

例句

The spider's web was so tenuous that a light breeze tore it apart.

so + tenuous + that-clause

Heloísa held the tenuous glass thread, afraid to breathe too hard.

同義詞
  • slender

    neutral; describes thinness without implying fragility

  • wispy

    used for smoke, hair, or clouds that are thin and drifting

  • delicate

    easily damaged; often has a positive or beautiful connotation

  • fine

    very thin in diameter, often used for hair, wire, or print

反義詞
  • thick

    having substantial width or depth

  • sturdy

    strong and unlikely to break

  • robust

    physically strong and durable

文法句型

tenuous + noun (thread, wire, cord, web, etc.)

be/seem + tenuous

用法筆記

Used for physical objects that are thin and easily broken: thread, wire, cord, web, membrane, layer, film. Distinguish from sense 1 (WEAK AND UNCERTAIN), which applies to abstract ideas rather than physical things.

常見錯誤

❌The tenuous man struggled to lift the box.
✅The thin man struggled to lift the box.
💡'tenuous' describes objects (threads, wires, layers), not people or body types.