First Known Use: 1565
Dictionary
plausible
adjective plau·si·ble \ˈplȯ-zə-bəl\
: possibly true : believable or realistic
Full Definition of PLAUSIBLE
1
: superficially fair, reasonable, or valuable but often specious <a plausible pretext>
2
: superficially pleasing or persuasive <a swindler… , then a quack, then a smooth, plausible gentleman — R. W. Emerson>
3
: appearing worthy of belief <the argument was both powerful and plausible>
— plau·si·ble·ness noun
— plau·si·bly \-blē\ adverb
See plausible defined for English-language learners
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Examples of PLAUSIBLE
- I watch the ospreys who nest on Perch Island high atop their white spruce. Our sense of a plausible summer depends much on their diligent success at nest-building and procreation, and on their chicks fledging in late August. —Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008
- … I'd mastered the quick size-up. Does the person seem agreeable over coffee at the drugstore counter and picking up his mail at the post office, drive a plausible vehicle, and know the weather forecast? —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, June 2007
- Now, two NASA scientists, both also astronauts, suggest a simpler, safer, and much more plausible way of diverting an offending asteroid. Their method relies on the gravitational tug of a massive, unmanned spacecraft to pull the rock away from a damaging rendezvous with Earth. —R. Cowen, Science News, 12 Nov. 2005
- … string theorists can exhibit plausible models of a unified Universe, but unfortunately they cannot explain why we inhabit a particular one. —Michael Atiyah, Nature, 22-29 Dec. 2005
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Origin of PLAUSIBLE
Latin plausibilis worthy of applause, from plausus, past participle of plaudere
Related to PLAUSIBLE
- Synonyms
- credible, creditable, likely, believable, presumptive, probable
- Antonyms
- far-fetched, implausible, improbable, incredible, unbelievable, unlikely, unplausible
PLAUSIBLE Defined for Kids
plausible
adjective plau·si·ble \ˈplȯ-zə-bəl\
Definition of PLAUSIBLE for Kids
: seeming to be reasonable <a plausible excuse>
— plau·si·bly \-blē\ adverb
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