implausible

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈplȯ-zə-bəl How to pronounce implausible (audio)
Definition of implausiblenext
as in incredible
too extraordinary or improbable to believe the terrorist attacks generated a whole passel of implausible conspiracy theories that dishonor the memory of those who perished

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 implausible These were identified as all that remained of the Jorge IV, which Carrión argued was implausible—a vessel that size would have left hundreds of floating objects. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 This did not strike me as implausible, given what had happened with Broadwater and all I’d learned about the Police Department at the time, not to mention the sheer volume of assailants and assaults back then. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Instead, and through no fault of any of the actors, this development feels more like an implausible stretch and a cheap way to introduce more chaos into the picture. — Elena Lazic, Variety, 26 June 2026 That doesn’t make the technology implausible. — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for implausible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for implausible
  1. incredible
  2. incredulous
  3. unlikely
  4. impossible
  5. unconvincing
  6. inconceivable
  7. unbelievable
  8. absurd
Adjective
  • Given Nolan’s famous aversion to AI, there was a relief in knowing this incredible display of creativity came primarily from practical effects and shooting on location.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The Nordstrom Beauty annual sale has returned in grand style, and there are incredible deals to be had.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 July 2026
Definition of incredible
Adjective
  • When provided with the county’s explanation, Johnson was incredulous.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
  • On several occasions throughout the game, Lakers players were incredulous after calls – or non-calls – from the crew.
    — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
Definition of incredulous
Adjective
  • Getty Images At first sight, Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira are unlikely founders of a start-up promising to shake up the American construction industry.
    — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Many of the athletes represented are unlikely to earn significant NIL money—some might not earn any—by playing another season.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of unlikely
Adjective
  • In Uvalde — where the scars of the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting remain impossible to ignore — one person was killed and dozens of homes were destroyed, compounding years of the community’s collective grief.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Four years after Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future fraud scandal emerged, theft from government programs has become impossible for state leaders to ignore as allegations continue to arise.
    — Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 19 July 2026
Definition of impossible
Adjective
  • Throughout the hearing, Kaufman tried to backpedal on his comments about vaccines, but his responses were unconvincing.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026
  • As a kid growing up in a religious household, Jean found the strict doctrines of Christianity unconvincing.
    — Juliet Linderman, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of unconvincing
Adjective
  • Conspiracy theorists have proposed many different (though mostly superstitious and inconceivable) reasons why disappearances and disasters occur in the Bermuda Triangle.
    — Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026
  • And the power play was 17th in the NHL, which seems inconceivable for a team with as much offensive firepower as Tampa Bay.
    — Scott Turick, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Definition of inconceivable
Adjective
  • The 15 stories below range from frustrating to funny to downright unbelievable, but each comes with a practical takeaway that could help another traveler avoid the same fate.
    — Josh Rivera, USA Today, 19 July 2026
  • Simon Hughes Yet another unbelievable goal from Mbappe Whoever ends up winning the Golden Boot will have a highlight reel for the ages.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of unbelievable
Adjective
  • In each social-commentary-teetering-on-horror episode, Nanno is a pupil at a different school, picture perfect and scanning the room for whatever secrets — an abusive teacher, an absurd hierarchical system, petty jealousy — demand to be revealed.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Cattelan spoke to the Financial Times about the strange afterlife of the work, which has become both a symbol of the art market’s excesses and a reminder of his talent for turning absurd ideas into global spectacles.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of absurd

Browse Nearby Words

implausibility
implausible
implausibly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Implausible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/implausible. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on implausible

Nglish: Translation of implausible for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All