a tenuous link — weak or uncertain connection
a connection or relationship between things, people, or ideas that is very weak, uncertain, or difficult to prove.
Say it like a native
Textbook The connection between the two is very weak and hard to prove.
Native The link between the two is pretty tenuous.
'Tenuous' carries 'weak and unconvincing' in a single adjective.
Pattern: a tenuous link (between A and B) / a tenuous link (to/with something)
In use
- There is only a tenuous link between the two incidents, so it's unlikely they are related.communication
- While some argue that social media use leads to lower academic performance, the evidence suggests only a tenuous link between the two.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ The two are tenuous linked.
✓ The link between the two is tenuous. / The two are tenuously linked.
'Tenuous' is an adjective — 'a tenuous link' or 'tenuously linked', not 'tenuous linked'.
Common collocations
a tenuous link/connection/grasp— link, connection, grasp, at best
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'a strong link', which suggests a clear and reliable connection, 'a tenuous link' emphasizes doubt and fragility. It is more formal and precise than simply saying 'a weak connection'.