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plausible

 - 3 dictionary results

plau⋅si⋅ble

  [plaw-zuh-buhl]
Use plausible in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having an appearance of truth or reason; seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance; credible; believable: a plausible excuse; a plausible plot.
2. well-spoken and apparently, but often deceptively, worthy of confidence or trust: a plausible commentator.
Origin:
1535–45; < L plausibilis deserving applause, equiv. to plaus(us) (ptp. of plaudere to applaud ) + -ibilis -ible

Related forms:
plau⋅si⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, plau⋅si⋅ble⋅ness, noun
plau⋅si⋅bly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. Plausible, specious describe that which has the appearance of truth but might be deceptive. The person or thing that is plausible strikes the superficial judgment favorably; it may or may not be true: a plausible argument (one that cannot be verified or believed in entirely). Specious definitely implies deceit or falsehood; the surface appearances are quite different from what is beneath: a specious pretense of honesty; a specious argument (one deliberately deceptive, probably for selfish or evil purposes).

Antonyms:
1. honest, sincere.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To plausible
plau·si·ble   (plô'zə-bəl)   
adj.  

  1. Seemingly or apparently valid, likely, or acceptable; credible: a plausible excuse.

  2. Giving a deceptive impression of truth or reliability.

  3. Disingenuously smooth; fast-talking: "Ambitious, unscrupulous, energetic, ... and plausible,—a political gladiator, ready for a 'set-to' in any crowd" (Frederick Douglass).


[Latin plausibilis, deserving applause, from plausus, past participle of plaudere, to applaud.]
plau'si·bil'i·ty, plau'si·ble·ness n., plau'si·bly adv.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean appearing to merit belief or acceptance: a plausible pretext; a believable excuse; a colorable explanation; a credible assertion.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

plausible 
1541, "acceptable, agreeable," from L. plausibilis "deserving applause, acceptable," from pp. stem of plaudere "to applaud" (see plaudit). Meaning "having the appearance of truth" is recorded from 1565.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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