plau·si·ble
(plốzə-bəl)
[Latin plausibilis, deserving applause, from plausus past participle of plaudere, to applaud.]
adjective
- Seemingly or apparently valid, likely, or acceptable; credible: a plausible excuse.
- Giving a deceptive impression of truth or reliability.
- Disingenuously smooth; fast-talking: “Ambitious, unscrupulous, energetic, … and plausible,—a political gladiator, ready for a ‘set-to’ in any crowd” (Frederick Douglass)
derivatives
- plaúsi·biĺi·ty
- noun
- plaúsi·bly
- adverb
synonyms:
plausible, believable, colorable, credible These adjectives mean appearing to merit belief or acceptance: a plausible pretext; a believable excuse; a colorable explanation; a credible assertion.