plausible

/ˈplɔzəbəl/
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Seeming reasonable, believable, or sincere, whether or not the appearance is true.

Examples

  • Her explanation sounds plausible, but we still need evidence.
  • His manner was friendly and plausible, but his story kept changing.
  • She played a plausible witness who hid one important fact.
  • At first the forecast seemed plausible, yet the data later proved it wrong.
  • They offered a plausible reason for the sudden delay.

Similar words

believable
possible
convincingconvincing
glib
likely
credible
persuasive
smooth
reasonable

Meanings

Seem reasonable or true

adjective
reasoning
neutral
Seeming reasonable or likely to be true, although this does not prove that it is true.

Examples

  • Her explanation sounds plausible, but we still need evidence.
  • Is it plausible that the package arrived before noon?
  • The detective rejected the first theory because it was not plausible.
  • They offered a plausible reason for the sudden delay.
  • At first the forecast seemed plausible, yet the data later proved it wrong.

Similar words

Seem sincere and convincing

adjective
social
formal
Good at appearing honest and sincere, especially while trying to persuade or deceive someone.

Examples

  • The fraudster was calm and plausible enough to win their trust.
  • She played a plausible witness who hid one important fact.
  • Do not assume that a plausible speaker is telling the truth.
  • His manner was friendly and plausible, but his story kept changing.
  • The caller sounded so plausible that nobody questioned the request.

Similar words

Etymology

From Latin plausibilis, meaning praiseworthy, pleasing, or deserving approval, from plaudere, meaning to applaud. By the 1560s it had developed the modern sense of seeming worthy of belief.

FAQ

What does plausible mean?

Plausible means seeming reasonable, believable, or sincere, without necessarily being true.

Does plausible mean true?

No. Something plausible appears likely or reasonable, but evidence may later show that it is false.

What is a plausible explanation?

A plausible explanation fits the known facts well enough to seem believable.

Can a person be plausible?

Yes. A plausible person sounds honest and convincing, sometimes while trying to deceive others.

What is the opposite of plausible?

The most direct opposite is implausible, meaning difficult to believe or unlikely to be true.

Where does plausible come from?

Plausible comes through Latin plausibilis, which originally concerned praise or approval and is related to applause.

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