plausible
Could be true
Plausible describes something that seems reasonable or believable on the surface, whether or not it's actually true.
A plausible explanation could be correct; a plausible excuse might be a lie that sounds convincing.
The word carries a hint of skepticism—plausible suggests just enough credibility to be taken seriously, not proof: His alibi was plausible but didn't hold up under scrutiny.
Worthy of acceptance
- conceivableAble to be imagined
- believableAble to convince
- probableLikely to occur
- possibleAble to occur
tenable · realistic · imaginable · reasonable · logical · sound · coherent · consistent
Able to be defended
- defensibleAble to be justified
- tenableCapable of being defended
- supportableAble to be justified
- arguableOpen to dispute
sustainable · maintainable · warrantable · legitimate · explicable · accountable
Able to convince others
- compellingPowerfully engaging or persuasive
- convincingAble to persuade
- cogentClearly logical and convincing
- eloquentFluent and persuasive
articulate · smooth-talking · glib · specious · slick · silver-tongued · disarming · beguiling
Able to be implemented
- viableCapable of succeeding
- achievableAble to be accomplished
- practicalSuited for real use
- doableAble to be accomplished
attainable · realizable · implementable · executable · manageable · actionable · accomplishable · obtainable
Likely to occur
- likelyHaving good odds
- odds-onLikely to win
- expectedRegarded as likely
- anticipatedExpected in advance
foreseeable · presumable · predictable · prospective · promising · hopeful
credible
Worthy of acceptance
- conceivableAble to be imagined
- believableAble to convince
- probableLikely to occur
possible · tenable · realistic · imaginable · reasonable · logical · sound · coherent · consistent · sensible
justifiable
Able to be defended
- defensibleAble to be justified
- tenableCapable of being defended
- supportableAble to be justified
arguable · sustainable · maintainable · warrantable · legitimate · explicable · accountable
persuasive
Able to convince others
- compellingPowerfully engaging or persuasive
- convincingAble to persuade
- cogentClearly logical and convincing
eloquent · articulate · smooth-talking · glib · specious · slick · silver-tongued · disarming · beguiling · seductive
workable
Able to be implemented
- viableCapable of succeeding
- achievableAble to be accomplished
- practicalSuited for real use
doable · attainable · realizable · implementable · executable · manageable · actionable · accomplishable · obtainable · accessible
probable
Likely to occur
anticipated · foreseeable · presumable · predictable · prospective · promising · hopeful
- authenticityauthentic, genuine, real, fake, counterfeit
- Possibilitymaybe, perhaps, possibly, could, might
- SAT vocabularyaesthetic, ambiguous, benevolent, candid, concise
- scenariosbest-case, worst-case, hypothetical, what-if, best case
- feasibilityfeasibility, feasible, viability, viable, practicality
- chancechance, luck, lottery, dice, randomness
plausibleimplausible
Unlikely to be true
unbelievable · incredible · far-fetched · inconceivable · preposterous
plausibleunreasonable
Not guided by reason
illogical · irrational · nonsensical · untenable · incoherent
plausibleunconvincing
Not able to persuade
unpersuasive · weak · thin · transparent · incredible
- plausible deniabilityArranged protection from accountability
implausible, plausibility, plausibly, implausibly, implausibility, plausibleness, plausibilities