Definition of appreciablenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective appreciable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of appreciable are palpable, perceptible, ponderable, sensible, and tangible. While all these words mean "apprehensible as real or existent," appreciable applies to what is distinctly discernible by the senses or definitely measurable.

an appreciable increase in income

When is palpable a more appropriate choice than appreciable?

In some situations, the words palpable and appreciable are roughly equivalent. However, palpable applies either to what has physical substance or to what is obvious and unmistakable.

the tension in the air was almost palpable

When could perceptible be used to replace appreciable?

While the synonyms perceptible and appreciable are close in meaning, perceptible applies to what can be discerned by the senses often to a minimal extent.

a perceptible difference in sound to a careful listener

Where would ponderable be a reasonable alternative to appreciable?

The words ponderable and appreciable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ponderable suggests having definitely measurable weight or importance.

exerted a ponderable influence on world events

When can sensible be used instead of appreciable?

The synonyms sensible and appreciable are sometimes interchangeable, but sensible applies to whatever is clearly apprehended through the senses or impresses itself strongly on the mind.

an abrupt, sensible drop in temperature

When might tangible be a better fit than appreciable?

Although the words tangible and appreciable have much in common, tangible suggests what is capable of being handled or grasped both physically and mentally.

no tangible evidence of UFOs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of appreciable So for Perseverance, the wheels were redesigned, and there are no signs of appreciable wear and tear, Lee said. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 8 Aug. 2026 No appreciable glycemic improvement was observed in healthy normoglycemic populations, and there was no significant effect on body mass index (BMI). — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 With the exceptions of Stowe and Radcliffe, few women writers receive any appreciable treatment in Fiedler’s book. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 Other nearby States have enacted similar legislation, with no appreciable reduction in revenues. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for appreciable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appreciable
Adjective
  • By combining them in different proportions, the researchers can create 16 distinguishable colours and at least 300 different shades.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Given medium, proportions, and form, from a distance Shift is barely distinguishable from the land.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Our final list is made up of the best six neck creams for older women that firmed skin and made things like tech neck, sagging, and crepey texture look a lot less noticeable and smoother.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Aldi’s Benton’s Original Chocolate Sandwich Creme Cookies have become a frequent Oreo comparison, and a Simply Recipes blind taste test found noticeable differences between the two, with the reviewer ultimately preferring Oreos.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • There are no audible alarms, as the monitor does not have a speaker, nor is there a display that shows the AQ readings.
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That is, when the dialogue is audible at all; much of it ends up subsumed by a thundering sound mix that obscures what you’re actually meant to hear.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • At this point, many of the magnets provide no discernible integration benefit and are viewed instead as inducements for any student to enroll.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, socialism operated more as a moral ideal for egalitarian liberals than as a discernible electoral strategy.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s also another, less perceptible way higher healthcare costs erode take-home pay.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The quality of the coffee seems a bit underwhelming, and its bitterness drowns out much of the perceptible campfire-ness.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Interestingly, there is no statistically detectable difference in offending rates before college, suggesting the future fraternity members weren’t always fundamentally different in their behavior.
    — Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • That would be detectable, too, even if all of the planets don’t actually join the transit parade.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Appreciable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appreciable. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster