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Believable: meaning, definitions and examples

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believable

 

[ bɪˈliːvəb(ə)l ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in storytelling

Capable of being believed; credible or plausible.

Synonyms

convincing, credible, credible, plausible, trustworthy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
believable

Appropriate for general use when describing something that seems real or true.

  • Her explanation was believable
  • The story he told was quite believable
credible

Used when something or someone is worthy of being believed or trusted, typically formal or more serious contexts.

  • The witness provided credible testimony
  • The source is credible
plausible

Used when something sounds reasonable or realistic but not necessarily true; often implies consideration of possibilities.

  • His excuse is plausible
  • That theory seems plausible
convincing

Used when talking about something that has persuaded you or others to believe it; often used in contexts where persuasion was required.

  • She gave a convincing argument
  • The presentation was very convincing
trustworthy

Used to describe someone or something that can be relied on as honest or truthful; generally applies to persons or sources.

  • She is a trustworthy friend
  • The data is from a trustworthy source

Examples of usage

  • The plot of the movie was so believable that I was completely engrossed in the story.
  • Her performance was so believable that it brought tears to the eyes of the audience.
  • The witness gave a believable account of the incident, which helped the police solve the case.
  • The special effects in the movie were incredibly believable, making the audience feel like they were part of the action.
  • A good actor can make even the most unbelievable story seem believable through their performance.
Context #2 | Adjective

general

Worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy.

Synonyms

convincing, credible, dependable, reliable, trustworthy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
believable

Appropriate for situations where something can be accepted as true or reasonable.

  • Her excuse was believable
  • The story seemed believable given the circumstances
trustworthy

Describes someone who is worthy of trust because they are honest, responsible, and reliable. This term emphasizes personal integrity.

  • He is a trustworthy manager
  • You should give the task to someone trustworthy
reliable

Similar to dependable, it is often used to describe someone or something that can be consistently trusted to do what is expected.

  • She is a reliable friend
  • The internet connection here is very reliable
dependable

Appropriate for describing someone or something that consistently performs well and can be relied upon.

  • He is a dependable employee
  • You need a dependable car for long trips
credible

Applied when referring to someone or something that can be trusted or believed because they are honest and real.

  • She is a credible source of information
  • The report appeared credible
convincing

Used when something is persuasive enough to make you believe it is true.

  • The lawyer's argument was convincing
  • His speech was so convincing that everyone agreed with him

Examples of usage

  • His explanation seemed believable, and we trusted him to lead the team.
  • The company's track record is impeccable, making them a believable partner for future projects.
  • She has a believable aura of sincerity that makes people naturally trust her.
  • The evidence presented in court was strong and believable, leading to a conviction.
  • In order to be a successful leader, you need to be believable and inspire trust in your team.

Translations

Translations of the word "believable" in other languages:

🇵🇹 crível

🇮🇳 विश्वसनीय (vishvasniya)

🇩🇪 glaubwürdig

🇮🇩 dapat dipercaya

🇺🇦 правдоподібний

🇵🇱 wiarygodny

🇯🇵 信じられる (shinjirareru)

🇫🇷 crédible

🇪🇸 creíble

🇹🇷 inanılır

🇰🇷 믿을 수 있는 (mideul su inneun)

🇸🇦 معقول (ma'qūl)

🇨🇿 uvěřitelný

🇸🇰 uveriteľný

🇨🇳 可信 (kěxìn)

🇸🇮 verodostojen

🇮🇸 trúverðugur

🇰🇿 сенімді

🇬🇪 სარწმუნო (sartsmuno)

🇦🇿 inanılır

🇲🇽 creíble

Etymology

The word 'believable' originated from the verb 'believe,' which dates back to the 12th century in Middle English. The addition of the suffix '-able' creates the adjective form, meaning 'capable of being believed.' Over time, 'believable' has become a common term in English language usage, particularly in the context of storytelling and credibility. It is a versatile word that conveys the idea of trustworthiness and credibility in various situations.

See also: belief, beliefs, believability, believe, believer, believers, disbelieve, disbeliever, disbelieving, nonbeliever, nonbelieving, unbelievability, unbelievable, unbelievably, unbelieving, unbelievingly.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,559, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.