plausible

[ plaw-zuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. having an appearance of truth or reason; seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance; credible; believable:

   a plausible excuse; a plausible plot.

   Antonyms: sincere, honest

2. well-spoken and apparently, but often deceptively, worthy of confidence or trust:

   a plausible commentator.

plausible

/ ˈplɔːzəbəl /

adjective

1. apparently reasonable, valid, truthful, etc

   a plausible excuse

2. apparently trustworthy or believable

   a plausible speaker

Derived Forms

• ˈplausibly, adverb
• ˌplausiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• plausi·bili·ty plausi·ble·ness noun
• plausi·bly adverb
• nonplau·si·bili·ty noun
• non·plausi·ble adjective
• non·plausi·ble·ness noun
• non·plausi·bly adverb
• over·plausi·ble adjective
• over·plausi·ble·ness noun
• over·plausi·bly adverb
• super·plausi·ble adjective
• super·plausi·ble·ness noun
• super·plausi·bly adverb
• un·plausi·ble adjective
• un·plausi·ble·ness noun
• un·plausi·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of plausible¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin plausibilis “deserving applause,” equivalent to plaus(us) (past participle of plaudere “to applaud” + -ibilis adjective suffix; applaud, -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of plausible¹

C16: from Latin plausibilis worthy of applause, from plaudere to applaud

Synonym Study

Plausible, specious describe that which has the appearance of truth but might be deceptive. The person or thing that is plausible strikes the superficial judgment favorably; it may or may not be true: a plausible argument (one that cannot be verified or believed in entirely). Specious definitely implies deceit or falsehood; the surface appearances are quite different from what is beneath: a specious pretense of honesty; a specious argument (one deliberately deceptive, probably for selfish or evil purposes).

Example Sentences

Even then, I could see her making a plausible case that you both understood the terms of your arrangement differently, or that she was desperate and contributed as much as she could.

From Washington Post

Today the Fairness Doctrine is even less plausible as a ready-made solution for solving modern media problems.

From Washington Post

That gave him his 15th major title and his first since 2008, putting Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 within plausible reach.

From Washington Post

Of course, “biologically plausible” is not a standard likely to inspire a fantastic degree of public confidence.

From Fortune

Based on the energy required to make the clouds so big and so hot, there are two plausible sources.

From Quanta Magazine

This may be the case—but it is not remotely plausible evidence that this attack was therefore orchestrated by North Korea.

From The Daily Beast

The notion that Ebola might be a sexually transmitted disease remains plausible if unproven.

From The Daily Beast

And the more disconnected we become from the era of the Civil War, the more abstract and plausible the idea of secession becomes.

From The Daily Beast

At the same time, they said it was plausible that pot could be disrupting brain development in teenagers.

From The Daily Beast

Even when plausible deniability crumbles, the brainwashed paste it back together again.

From The Daily Beast

And our surroundings at that particular moment were not the most favorable to coherent thought or plausible theory-building.

From Project Gutenberg

It is well known that these declarations of science are mere speculations, plausible indeed, but nowhere proven to be true.

From Project Gutenberg

The old folks discussed it, and hope made it seem more and more plausible to them.

From Project Gutenberg

It really did not look plausible that he would come out in the drizzle to see if Foster's car was safely locked in for the night.

From Project Gutenberg

His inventive faculties and his plausible eloquence were no more; and he seemed to have sunk into second childhood.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conceivable
• credible
• logical
• persuasive
• possible
• probable
• tenable
• valid