What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
untenable
Example
The company's financial situation was untenable, and it had to declare bankruptcy. [untenable: adjective]
Example
His argument was untenable since it relied on false assumptions. [untenable: adjective]
precarious
Example
The hiker found himself in a precarious situation when he got lost in the mountains. [precarious: adjective]
Example
The company's future was precarious due to the economic downturn. [precarious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Precarious is more commonly used than untenable in everyday language. Precarious is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while untenable is less common and is typically used in academic or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between untenable and precarious?
Both untenable and precarious are formal words that are more likely to be used in academic or professional contexts than in casual conversation.
