'Plausible' definitions:
Definition of 'plausible'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Apparently reasonable and valid, and truthful; "a plausible excuse" [ant: implausible]
adjective
Given to or characterized by presenting specious arguments; "a plausible liar"
Definition of 'Plausible'
From: GCIDE
- Plausible \Plau"si*ble\, a. [L. plausibilis praiseworthy, from plaudere, plausum, to applaud, clap the hands, strike, beat.]
- 1. Worthy of being applauded; praiseworthy; commendable; ready. [Obs.] --Bp. Hacket. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Obtaining approbation; specifically pleasing; apparently right; specious; as, a plausible pretext; plausible manners; a plausible delusion. "Plausible and popular arguments." --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Using specious arguments or discourse; as, a plausible speaker. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Plausible, Specious.
- Usage: Plausible denotes that which seems reasonable, yet leaves distrust in the judgment. Specious describes that which presents a fair appearance to the view and yet covers something false. Specious refers more definitely to the act or purpose of false representation; plausible has more reference to the effect on the beholder or hearer. An argument may by specious when it is not plausible because its sophistry is so easily discovered. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'plausible'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- acceptable,
- admissible,
- apparent,
- apparently sound,
- believable,
- casuistic,
- cogent,
- cogitable,
- colorable,
- colored,
- conceivable,
- conceivably possible,
- contingent,
- credible,
- creditable,
- deceitful,
- deceptive,
- disingenuous,
- empty,
- fallacious,
- fiduciary,
- gilded,
- hollow,
- humanly possible,
- illusive,
- imaginable,
- insincere,
- jesuitic,
- just,
- justifiable,
- legitimate,
- likely,
- logical,
- meretricious,
- misleading,
- ostensible,
- overrefined,
- oversubtle,
- philosophistic,
- possible,
- potential,
- presentable,
- probable,
- rational,
- reasonable,
- reliable,
- sane,
- seeming,
- sensible,
- smooth,
- sophistic,
- sophistical,
- sound,
- specious,
- tenable,
- thinkable,
- tinsel,
- trustworthy,
- trusty,
- unexceptionable,
- unimpeachable,
- unquestionable,
- well-argued,
- well-founded,
- well-grounded,
- wholesome,
- worthy of faith