Plausible
mediumNeutral tonePLAW-zuh-bul
adjective
Definition
Seeming reasonable or probable; credible and deserving of belief
Memory hook
PLAUS-IBLE: worthy of APPLAUSE because it sounds reasonable — credible enough to believe.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The defendant's alibi seemed plausible until the detective discovered contradicting evidence.”
“While the startup's business model is plausible, investors remain skeptical about its long-term profitability.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The defendant's alibi seemed ______ until the detective discovered contradicting evidence.”
Show answer
plausible
Categories
GRE Tip
Plausible is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "credible" or "tenable" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "implausible".
Related GRE Words
credible
Able to be believed; convincing; trustworthy
coherent
Logical and consistent; able to speak clearly and logically
confound
to confuse or perplex; to mix up or thwart
conundrum
a confusing and difficult problem or riddle
negate
to nullify; make ineffective or invalid
refute
To prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false
Master plausible and 1,000+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.