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: sincere, honest

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

   a plausible commentator.

plausible

/ ˈplɔːzəbəl /

adjective

1. apparently reasonable, valid, truthful, etc

   a plausible excuse

2. apparently trustworthy or believable

   a plausible speaker

Other Word Forms

• plausibly adverb
• plausibility noun
• plausibleness noun
• 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of plausible¹

C16: from Latin plausibilis worthy of applause, from plaudere to _applaud

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).

Example Sentences

A more plausible threat to market calm, in their view, would be the ructions in the credit market.

Read more on MarketWatch

But with the driver still failing to provide any plausible explanation, officers took the same model of van back to the scene, to retrace his route.

Read more on BBC

The writer pointed to the standard empirical data points – consumer confidence, morale, the usuals – but eventually landed on the basic plausible theory that chasing down conspiracies is just plain fun.

Read more on Salon

For the wider electorate, even those with legitimate doubts about his character, it neutralized their concerns by depriving Democrats of any plausible claim to the moral high ground.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The idea that voters would have taken her and the Tories more seriously if she’d started expounding her reform agenda sooner isn’t plausible.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conceivable 
• credible 
• logical 
• persuasive 
• possible 
• probable 
• tenable 
• valid