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GRE vocabulary

untenable

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore U words

impossible to defend or maintain

Word origin: From Latin tenere, to hold.

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In a sentence

Untenable in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing untenable in a sentence.

Once the data emerged, his theory became completely untenable.

Once the data were retracted, the committee's original conclusion became untenable.

Synonyms
indefensibleunsustainableinsupportable
Antonyms
defensibletenablejustifiable

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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

The naturalist warned that the alpine bloom was blank, a spectacle of color that would vanish within days of the thaw, leaving no trace by midsummer.

Select the two answers that give the sentence the same meaning. 0 of 2 selected.

Usage & nuance

Using “untenable” well

Untenable means impossible to defend or maintain, applied to positions, arguments, or situations. It is the direct opposite of tenable, its own negated form, and of defensible.

Common questions

Questions about “untenable”

Untenable (adjective) means impossible to defend or maintain
Here is untenable used in an example sentence: "Once the data emerged, his theory became completely untenable." Another example: "Once the data were retracted, the committee's original conclusion became untenable."
Common synonyms for untenable include indefensible, unsustainable, insupportable.
Antonyms of untenable include defensible, tenable, justifiable.
Clusters with indefensible, unsustainable, and insupportable in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms defensible, tenable, and justifiable mark the reversed sense.
Yes. Untenable is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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