arguable

[ahr-gyoo-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. susceptible to debate, challenge, or doubt; questionable.

   Whether this is the best plan of action or not is arguable.

2. susceptible to being supported by convincing or persuasive argument.

   Admirers agree that it is arguable he is the finest pianist of his generation.

arguable

/ ˈɑːɡjʊəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being disputed; doubtful

2. capable of being supported by argument; plausible

Other Word Forms

• arguably adverb
• nonarguable adjective
• unarguable adjective
• unarguably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of arguable¹

First recorded in 1605–15; argue + -able

Example Sentences

Just as there was an old Nixon and a new Nixon, so there is old and new Orange County, and in both cases, some say the differences are arguable.

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And cruise ships are, for all their arguable faults, an excellent setting for forcing two strangers to spend a week together.

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Judges at the Court of Appeal have now ruled that "there is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive".

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Whether or not Stone’s film was successful in that respect is arguable, but Kilmer’s performance as The Doors’ frontman certainly is not.

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Dismissing Sharif's appeal, Lady Justice Carr said: "We can see no arguable basis to challenge the conclusion of the trial judge."

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Related Words

• conceivable 
• defensible 
• imaginable