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View synonyms for

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

    a plausible commentator.



plausible

/ ˈɔːəə /

adjective

  1. apparently reasonable, valid, truthful, etc

    a plausible excuse

  2. apparently trustworthy or believable

    a plausible speaker

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • plausibility noun
  • plausibleness noun
  • plausibly adverb
  • nonplausibility noun
  • nonplausible adjective
  • nonplausibleness noun
  • nonplausibly adverb
  • overplausible adjective
  • overplausibleness noun
  • overplausibly adverb
  • superplausible adjective
  • superplausibleness noun
  • superplausibly adverb
  • unplausible adjective
  • unplausibleness noun
  • unplausibly adverb
  • ˈܲ adverb
  • ˌܲˈٲ noun
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of plausible1

C16: from Latin plausibilis worthy of applause, from plaudere to applaud
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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).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

When we set out to make this film, No Choice, we hoped to imagine a plausible future — not to prophesy our present reality.

From

"This… simply provides the government with supposed 'plausible deniability' for enabling breaches of international law," said the former official who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

From

Time for another drink, I told myself and offered a plausible excuse for moving along.

From

Brought in by the board to shield the Elsinore Picture Corp. from damaging publicity, he sets out to determine what really happened, only to concoct a plausible narrative that won’t get the company canceled.

From

Temporal sequence is not causation, but in a public health crisis, a plausible step is mass distribution of an antidote easily administered by lay persons.

From

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Plauenplausive