plausible

[ plaw-zuh-buhl ]
See synonyms for: plausibleplausibilityplausiblenessplausibly on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. having an appearance of truth or reason; seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance; credible; believable: a plausible excuse; a plausible plot.

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

Origin of plausible

1
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin plausibilis “deserving applause,” equivalent to plaus(us) (past participle of plaudere “to applaud” + -ibilis adjective suffix; see origin at applaud, -ible

synonym study For plausible

1. 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).

Opposites for plausible

Other words from plausible

  • 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use plausible in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plausible

plausible

/ (ˈplɔːzəbəl) /


adjective
  1. apparently reasonable, valid, truthful, etc: a plausible excuse

  2. apparently trustworthy or believable: a plausible speaker

Origin of plausible

1
C16: from Latin plausibilis worthy of applause, from plaudere to applaud

Derived forms of plausible

  • plausibility or plausibleness, noun
  • plausibly, adverb

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