Your explanation sounds plausible, but it just doesn't hold water.
Source: tatoeba (17012)
Plausible
/ˈplɔː.zɪ.bl̩/
Synonyms for "plausible" (115 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (23)
acceptableadmissibleallegedapparentapparently soundbelievablecasuisticcertaincogentcogitablecolorablecoloredconceivableconceivably possiblecontingent
Adjective(5 words)
Noun(3 words)
Strong matches (35)
Adjective(15 words)
Related words (57)
Noun(2 words)
most naturalposs
Adjective(14 words)
possible outcomespotential solutionpresumableprobableprobable conclusionprobable effectrealist fictionrealistic approachrealistic movementreliable resultsustainable resourcetenableunderstandableverisimilar
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acceptable, admissible, admissible evidence, alleged, apparent.
- Sentence evidence is available for plausible, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "plausible".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "plausible"
Keep "plausible" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "plausible" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "plausible", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "plausible" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
4 entriescredible hypothesisplausible explanationplausible hypothesistenable interpretation
Collocations
6 entriesplausible argumentplausible explanationplausible hypothesisplausible mechanismplausible rationaleplausible scenario
Inflections
2 entriesmore plausiblemost plausible
Derivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
7 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
A more plausible proposal is the one Leech presented in conjunction with Emmet's theory.
Source: tatoeba (29707)
What makes it so plausible to assume that hypocrisy is the vice of vices is that integrity can indeed exist under the cover of all other vices except this one. Only crime and the criminal, it is true, confront us with the perplexity of radical evil; but only the hypocrite is really rotten to the core.
Source: tatoeba (426680)
This thing seems very plausible to me.
Source: tatoeba (1645707)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "plausible"?
Closest matches include acceptable, admissible, admissible evidence, alleged, apparent.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "plausible"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.