BharatNotes Untenable
adjectiveUsage in a UPSC answer
Once independent fiscal data exposed the fudged growth figures, the government's claim of a debt-free recovery became wholly untenable, forcing a mid-year revision of the Union Budget.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
tenable (adj), tenability (n), untenable (adj), untenably (adv), untenability (n)
Root
Latin tenēre = to hold; French tenable = holdable; un- = not; literally 'not able to be held'
Etymology
From un- ('not') + tenable, the latter from French tenable, from Old French tenir 'to hold', ultimately from Latin tenēre 'to hold, possess'. First attested in English in the mid-17th century, originally meaning 'unable to be held against attack'.
Memory Hook
UN- + TEN (from Latin tenēre, 'to hold') + -able: literally 'not able to be held' - a position so weak you simply cannot hold on to it.
How This Word Works in UPSC Writing
Incapable of being defended or maintained, said of a position or argument. It is a strong analytical verdict, so a GS2 or GS4 answer using it should show why the position collapses rather than simply asserting that it does. It is more precise than wrong, because it says the position cannot be sustained under scrutiny, which is a claim about the reasoning rather than the conclusion.
Don’t Confuse It With
Untenable cannot be defended or maintained. Unsustainable cannot be continued over time, which is about duration rather than defensibility. Indefensible is close to untenable and often carries moral weight. Implausible is unlikely rather than impossible to defend.
Hindi Meaning
अस्थिर (asthir) or अरक्षणीय (arakshanīya).
Common Questions
- What does untenable mean?
- Incapable of being defended or maintained, said of an argument or position.
- How is untenable different from unsustainable?
- Untenable means the position cannot be defended under scrutiny. Unsustainable means it cannot be continued over time.
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