untenable

[ uhn-ten-uh-buhl ]
See synonyms for untenable on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. (of an argument, thesis, strategy, etc.) incapable of being defended; indefensible: I do not regard atheism as an untenable stance toward the world.

  2. (of a situation or condition) incapable of being sustained or maintained over time: A number of exporters have called for the measure to be withdrawn, maintaining it has imposed an untenable strain on their working capital.

  1. not fit to be occupied, as an apartment, house, etc.

Origin of untenable

1
First recorded in 1640–50; un-1 + tenable

Other words for untenable

Other words from untenable

  • un·ten·a·bil·i·ty [uhn-ten-uh-bil-i-tee], /ʌnˌtɛn əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, un·ten·a·ble·ness, noun

Words Nearby untenable

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use untenable in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for untenable

untenable

/ (ʌnˈtɛnəbəl) /


adjective
  1. (of theories, propositions, etc) incapable of being maintained, defended, or vindicated

  2. unable to be maintained against attack

  1. rare (of a house, etc) unfit for occupation

Derived forms of untenable

  • untenability or untenableness, noun
  • untenably, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012