Plausible: meaning, definitions and examples

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plausible

 

[หˆplษ”หzษ™b(ษ™)l ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

logical reasoning

seeming reasonable or probable; possible

Synonyms

believable, credible, likely, reasonable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
plausible

Use 'plausible' to describe a statement or theory that seems reasonable and could possibly be true, but not necessarily proven.

  • Her excuse for being late sounded plausible
  • It is a plausible explanation for the mysterious disappearance
believable

Use 'believable' when talking about something that can be accepted as true or convincing, often used in the context of stories or explanations.

  • The characters in the movie were very believable
  • His story seemed believable at first, but later I had doubts
credible

Use 'credible' for something or someone that can be trusted or believed, often because of a demonstrated track record or reliability.

  • She is a credible witness
  • The scientist provided credible evidence for his findings
reasonable

Use 'reasonable' to describe an idea, action, or decision that is fair, sensible, or based on good judgment.

  • His proposal sounds reasonable
  • It is reasonable to expect some delays with the project
likely

Use 'likely' to describe something that has a good chance of happening or being true, based on evidence or reasoning.

  • It is likely that it will rain tomorrow
  • She is the most likely candidate for the job

Examples of usage

  • It is plausible that she will win the competition, considering her talent.
  • The theory presented by the scientist is plausible, but requires further testing to confirm.
  • His explanation seemed plausible at first glance, but upon closer examination, it fell apart.
Context #2 | Adjective

excuse

used as an excuse or explanation that appears reasonable or convincing, but may not be true

Synonyms

deceptive, disingenuous, misleading, specious.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
plausible

Used when something seems reasonably true or believable, although it may not be certain.

  • Her explanation for being late was plausible.
  • It sounds plausible that he missed the meeting due to traffic.
specious

Used when something appears to be true or valid but is actually false or lacking real merit. This word often has a negative connotation.

  • His argument was specious and easily debunked.
  • The specious reasoning in the report fooled many people.
deceptive

Used when something is meant to trick or give a false impression, often involving an element of dishonesty.

  • The ad was deceptive and led customers to believe the product was more effective than it actually is.
  • His calm demeanor was deceptive; he was very nervous.
misleading

Used when something is designed to lead someone to a wrong conclusion or belief, creating a false impression.

  • The chart was misleading because it omitted important data.
  • Her statement was misleading and caused confusion.
disingenuous

Used to describe someone who is not entirely honest or sincere, often by pretending to know less than they actually do.

  • Her compliment seemed disingenuous and forced.
  • He gave a disingenuous apology that didn't feel genuine.

Examples of usage

  • His excuses for being late were plausible, but we suspected he was lying.
  • She gave a plausible explanation for her absence, but we later found out the real reason.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'plausible' comes from the Latin 'plausibilis', which means 'worthy of applause' or 'acceptable'.
  • Originally, the term was used to express approval or acceptance of someone's actions or arguments.
  • The root 'plaudere' means 'to applaud' or 'to strike the palm', linking it to expressions of approval.

Psychology

  • Cognitive biases can affect our perception of what is plausible by altering how we process information.
  • The 'illusion of truth' effect shows that people are more likely to believe statements they have heard before, making them seem more plausible.
  • In persuasive communication, frameworks like the Elaboration Likelihood Model highlight how plausible arguments can align better with our pre-existing beliefs.

Science

  • In science, plausible explanations help guide hypotheses and theories, aiding in the advancement of knowledge.
  • The plausibility of an idea is often tested through experiments and peer reviews in scientific communities.
  • Science uses plausibility to determine whether phenomena can be explained logically within existing frameworks.

Literature

  • In storytelling, characters often face dilemmas where their decisions must be plausible, enhancing realism and audience engagement.
  • Plausibility is a key element in creating believable narratives and maintaining audience suspension of disbelief.
  • Authors may use plausible scenarios to tackle complex themes, making challenging ideas more accessible to readers.

Pop Culture

  • In movies and television, believable plot twists hinge on the plausibility of character actions and storylines.
  • Critics often assess the plausibility of a filmโ€™s premise when determining its credibility with audiences.
  • Reality TV often blurs the lines of plausibility, leading viewers to question what is scripted versus real.

Translations

Translations of the word "plausible" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น plausรญvel

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเค‚เคญเคพเคตเคฟเคค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช plausibel

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ masuk akal

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะนะผะพะฒั–ั€ะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wiarygodny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚‚ใฃใจใ‚‚ใ‚‰ใ—ใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท plausible

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ plausible

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท makul

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ทธ๋Ÿด๋“ฏํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุนู‚ูˆู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ pravdฤ›podobnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ pravdepodobnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅˆ็†็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ verjeten

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sennilegur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‹า›ั‚ะธะผะฐะป

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒ•แƒแƒ แƒแƒฃแƒ“แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ehtimal olunan

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ plausible

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,221 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.