plausible

/'plɔ:zəbl/

Thân thiện

A plausible explanation for the missing cookies was that a friendly raccoon had visited the kitchen.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Apparently reasonable, valid, or truthful: Describes something (like an argument, excuse, or story) that seems believable or acceptable on the surface, even if it might not be true upon closer examination.
   • Given to or characterized by presenting specious arguments: Describes a person who is skilled at making statements that sound convincing but are deceptive or misleading.

Usage

• Use "plausible" to describe an idea, explanation, or person that appears credible or likely to be true based on initial impressions.
• It often carries a nuance of superficial credibility, implying that while something reasonable, its actual truth or validity is uncertain or questionable.
• Common collocations include: , , , , , .

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The detective found the suspect's alibi to be plausible but needed further verification.
  • She gave a plausible excuse for being late, so her boss didn't question her further.
  • His theory about the cause of the accident is plausible, though not yet proven.
  • He is a plausible liar, always able to make his stories sound convincing.

Advanced Usage

• "Plausible deniability": A situation where a person, typically a senior official, can deny knowledge of or responsibility for an action because there is no clear evidence to prove their involvement.
  • The system was designed to give the CEO plausible deniability in case of a scandal.

Variants and Related Words

• Plausibility (noun): The quality of being plausible.
  • The plausibility of his story made it hard to dismiss.
• Plausibly (adverb): In a plausible manner.
  • He argued plausibly for the new policy.

Synonyms

• Believable: Capable of being believed.
• Credible: Able to be trusted; convincing.
• Convincing: Persuading someone to believe that something is true or real.
• Specious (often negative): Superficially plausible, but actually wrong or misleading.

Antonyms

• Implausible: Not seeming reasonable or probable; failing to convince.
• Unbelievable: Not able to be believed; unlikely to be true.
• Incredible: Impossible to believe.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Have a plausible ring to it": To sound believable or true.
  • His explanation for the missing funds had a plausible ring to it, so the audit proceeded cautiously.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. given to or characterized by presenting specious arguments
   • a plausible liar
2. apparently reasonable and valid, and truthful
   • a plausible excuse