Tenable vs Tenacious - What's the difference?

As adjectives the difference between tenable and tenacious

is that tenable is capable of being maintained or justified; well-founded while tenacious is clinging to an object or surface; adhesive.

(en adjective)

capable of being maintained or justified; well-founded

Back in the 1800s, many did not consider Darwin's theory of evolution to be tenable at all.

(of a defensive structure) capable of being defended against assault or attack; defensible

* untenable

* ----

(en adjective)

clinging to an object or surface; adhesive

unwilling to yield or give up; dogged

holding together; cohesive

having a good memory; retentive

* See also