WordValeplausible
seeming reasonable or probable
seeming reasonable or probable
seeming reasonable
In more detail
1. (adjective) seeming reasonable and likely to be true, even though you are not certain
2. (adjective) appearing honest and trustworthy, but perhaps not really so
Examples
- 1. His explanation for being late seems plausible, though I'm not completely sure.
- 2. The con artist gave a plausible story that tricked many investors.
How to use plausible
Plausible describes something that seems true or reasonable based on available evidence, even if unconfirmed. It often carries a subtle suggestion of being superficially convincing rather than definitively proven, and can hint at deliberate deception (especially in 'plausible deniability'). It is stronger than merely 'possible' but weaker than 'certain' or 'proven'.
Common phrases
- plausible explanation
- plausible deniability
- plausible excuse
- sounds plausible
- entirely plausible
- plausible argument
Synonyms
credible · believable · convincing · reasonable · probable
Opposites
implausible · incredible · unbelievable
Word family
implausible · plausibly · plausibility
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use plausible to mean simply 'true' or 'correct', forgetting that it emphasizes apparent reasonableness rather than verified fact.
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