Plausibly
adverb
In a way that can be believed or regarded as likely.
The story is plausibly told, and the characters are well developed.
Often appears as...
- plausibly deny
- plausibly argue
adverb
In a way that seems reasonable but may not be true.
He could plausibly deny his involvement in the crime.
Often appears as...
- plausibly denied
- plausibly asserted
adverb
In a way that can be believed or regarded as likely.
The story is plausibly told, and the characters are well developed.
Often appears as...
- plausibly deny
- plausibly argue
adverb
In a way that seems reasonable but may not be true.
He could plausibly deny his involvement in the crime.
Often appears as...
- plausibly denied
- plausibly asserted
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Likelihood Context
Use 'plausibly' when something seems logical or probable, not just possible.
She could plausibly become the next CEO given her experience.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Doubt
'Plausibly' can imply a small degree of doubt, suggesting an explanation isn't certain.
He plausibly explained the situation, though some skepticism remained.
Pro Tip 3/3Narrative Strength
In storytelling, 'plausibly' indicates that the narrative or characters are convincingly developed.
The novel's plot unfolded plausibly, drawing readers into the story.
Compare with
crediblepossiblepotentialreasonable
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Video examples
What would happen if we...
First, the em world grows much faster than ours, roughly a hundred times faster. So the amount of change we would experience in a century or two, they would experience in a year or two. And I'm not really willing to project this age much beyond that, because plausibly by then something else will happen, I don't know what.
Video examples
What would happen if we...
First, the em world grows much faster than ours, roughly a hundred times faster. So the amount of change we would experience in a century or two, they would experience in a year or two. And I'm not really willing to project this age much beyond that, because plausibly by then something else will happen, I don't know what.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
George Will
Journalist
Democrats believe, plausibly, that middle-class entitlements are instantly addictive and, because there is no known detoxification, that class, when facing future choices between trimming entitlements or increasing taxes, will choose the latter.
Quote examples
Andy Weir
American Novelist
Research into manned spaceflight is shifting from low-Earth orbit to destinations much further away, like Mars and the asteroid belt. But society will have to invent many new technologies before it can plausibly send people to those distances.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
It could be - and it has been argued, in my view rather plausibly, though neuroscientists don't like it - that neuroscience for the last couple hundred years has been on the wrong track.
Quote examples
John McCain
American Politician
No one can plausibly argue that ridding the world of Saddam Hussein will not significantly improve the stability of the region and the security of American interests and values.
Quote examples
Lauren DeStefano
American Author
Most dystopian, classic and contemporary, paints a future world that puts a twist on present society - a future world that could plausibly happen.
Quote examples
Robert J. Sawyer
Canadian Writer
Science fiction is about things that plausibly might happen. Grounding my work in the real world helps make that clear.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
Any conception of human well-being you could plausibly have, the Taliban patently fails to maximize it.
Quote examples
George Will
Journalist
Democrats believe, plausibly, that middle-class entitlements are instantly addictive and, because there is no known detoxification, that class, when facing future choices between trimming entitlements or increasing taxes, will choose the latter.
Quote examples
Andy Weir
American Novelist
Research into manned spaceflight is shifting from low-Earth orbit to destinations much further away, like Mars and the asteroid belt. But society will have to invent many new technologies before it can plausibly send people to those distances.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
It could be - and it has been argued, in my view rather plausibly, though neuroscientists don't like it - that neuroscience for the last couple hundred years has been on the wrong track.
Quote examples
John McCain
American Politician
No one can plausibly argue that ridding the world of Saddam Hussein will not significantly improve the stability of the region and the security of American interests and values.
Quote examples
Lauren DeStefano
American Author
Most dystopian, classic and contemporary, paints a future world that puts a twist on present society - a future world that could plausibly happen.
Quote examples
Robert J. Sawyer
Canadian Writer
Science fiction is about things that plausibly might happen. Grounding my work in the real world helps make that clear.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
Any conception of human well-being you could plausibly have, the Taliban patently fails to maximize it.
Example 1 of 7
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