The word tenuous has appeared in 175 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on March 7 in “How to Move a 1,000-Pound Rescued Manatee (Swimming Isn’t an Option)” by Catrin Einhorn:
Manatees were among the first animals listed on the Endangered Species Act in 1973, when their population was estimated at around 1,000. Now they’ve come to exemplify both the power of conservation and how tenuous its successes can feel. The most recent population estimate, for 2021-22, is about 10,000. Researchers largely attribute the increase to habitat protection and speed restrictions for boats. In 2017, the federal government downlisted Florida manatees from endangered to threatened.
But new threats loom.
Climate change and Florida’s growing population are expected to create the conditions for an increase in harmful algal blooms, according to a report commissioned by the state. Red tide can kill manatees directly, while other kinds of algal blooms can choke off the seagrass they need to survive.
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word tenuous in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
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