palpable

[pal-puh-buhl]

adjective

1. readily or plainly seen, heard, perceived, etc.; obvious; evident.

   a palpable lie; palpable absurdity.

   Synonyms: plain, manifest
   Antonyms: obscure

2. capable of being touched or felt; tangible.

   Synonyms: corporeal, material

3. Medicine/Medical.,  perceptible by palpation.

palpable

/ ˈpælpəbəl /

adjective

1. (usually prenominal) easily perceived by the senses or the mind; obvious

   the excuse was a palpable lie

2. capable of being touched; tangible

3. med capable of being discerned by the sense of touch

   a palpable tumour

Other Word Forms

• palpability noun
• palpableness noun
• palpably adverb
• nonpalpability noun
• nonpalpable adjective
• nonpalpably adverb
• unpalpable adjective
• unpalpably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of palpable¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin palpābilis “touchable,” from palpā(re) “to stroke, touch” ( palpate ¹ ) + -bilis -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of palpable¹

C14: from Late Latin palpābilis that may be touched, from Latin palpāre to stroke, touch

Example Sentences

The project’s genesis as an excavation of found material hints at concepts having to do with forgotten technology and lost futures, yet the emotional appeal of the music is palpable.

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On one side, there’s a palpable level of excitement about the new possibilities offered by spatial teleportation.

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The depth of your care and concern for your chosen family is palpable, and powerful.

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Farsi doesn’t draw the ending out: just sparsely worded text after witnessing their final chat, followed by a video Hassona had taken rolling through her devastated city, somehow grounded in a palpable, undying everydayness.

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On paper, the defensive improvement has been palpable, year over year, even if it’s a bit less drastic from this season to last.

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Related Words

• apparent 
• certain 
• conspicuous 
• credible 
• detectable www.thesaurus.com
• discernible 
• distinct 
• evident 
• noticeable 
• perceptible 
• remarkable 
• unmistakable 
• visible