tenuous

[ ten-yoo-uhs ]
/ ˈtɛn yu əs /

adjective

thin or slender in form, as a thread.
lacking a sound basis, as reasoning; unsubstantiated; weak: a tenuous argument.
thin in consistency; rare or rarefied.
of slight importance or significance; unsubstantial: He holds a rather tenuous position in history.
lacking in clarity; vague: He gave a rather tenuous account of his past life.

Origin of tenuous

First recorded in 1590–1600; tenu(ity) + -ous

OTHER WORDS FROM tenuous

Example sentences from the Web for tenuous

British Dictionary definitions for tenuous

tenuous
/ (ˈtɛnjʊəs) /

adjective

insignificant or flimsy a tenuous argument
slim, fine, or delicate a tenuous thread
diluted or rarefied in consistency or density a tenuous fluid

Derived forms of tenuous

tenuity (tɛˈnjʊɪtɪ) or tenuousness, noun tenuously, adverb

Word Origin for tenuous

C16: from Latin tenuis