passable

adjective

ˈpa-sə-bəl How to pronounce passable (audio)
Definition of passablenext
1
as in navigable
capable of being traveled on after the snowstorm ends, the roads might not be passable for the morning ride to school

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2
as in penetrable
capable of being passed into or through the jungle is not passable without a machete

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3
as in decent
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards that's a passable paper

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4
as in satisfactory
of average to below average quality the actor's Scottish accent is passable at best

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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 passable Energy analysts have warned that oil and natural gas prices are likely to remain elevated until the strait is passable, even as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates seek to expand other routes to get their crude to market. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 Anyone can now generate marketing materials, animations, even a passable news story with a keystroke. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 31 July 2026 There are currently no flights to this part of the country, so people are entirely dependent on passable roads. — Betsy Joles, NPR, 29 July 2026 There’s passable yet indistinguishable music in this exact style dropping every day, but the difference with Chicago’s Fatso is that his lyrics feel like scraps of conversations that communicate his hurt without leaning on platitudes. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for passable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passable
  1. navigable
  2. penetrable
  3. decent
  4. satisfactory
  5. porous
  6. adequate
  7. mediocre
  8. fine
Adjective
  • Florsheim’s argument has centered on Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine, which protects public rights in navigable waters and the land beneath them.
    — Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Sheriff’s Office patrols the Chain, with 6,000 acres and 15 lakes that are interconnected navigable waterways, along with the county portion of the Fox River and 26 miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of navigable
Adjective
  • The wall between the two has long been viewed as performative and penetrable.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
  • By breaking actives down into smaller molecules, the fermentation process makes the ingredient more bioavailable and penetrable.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
Definition of penetrable
Adjective
  • While the price can be inhibiting for some — with chef pants priced as high as $190 and jackets as much as $210, the price of a decent knife or other cooking tools — Argoti feels the heavy usage justifies the cost for him.
    — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The other was a decent man constantly being tormented by God in order to test his faith.
    — Chuck Lorre, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • After months of negotiations failed to yield a satisfactory agreement, the union approved strike action earlier this month in a vote held in tandem with unions at the Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The effort displayed by Kansas’ 14 men’s basketball players at Bill Self’s 24th annual Boot Camp proved satisfactory to the Hall of Fame Jayhawks coach.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • Expedition 01 is the first Maker’s bourbon to use mizunara, the Japanese oak that is known for being rare, expensive, and often difficult to work with due to its porous nature.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The film feels particularly porous despite its over-two-hour running time, a testament not only to Chidgasornpongse’s longtime team-up with Weerasethakul (here credited as producer) but also to his own dramaturgical strengths.
    — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of porous
Adjective
  • Flagship neoclouds If the hyperscalers were adequate, neoclouds wouldn't be proliferating.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Many have taken to the streets in towns and neighborhoods to protest the worsening situation, with roadblocks, tire-burning and residents holding up signs criticizing the government for not providing adequate solutions.
    — Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of adequate
Adjective
  • Jon Stewart set his sights on AI on the latest episode of The Daily Show, unpacking the threats posed by the technology and Donald Trump‘s mediocre reaction.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
  • On paper, the Brewers will pose a significantly tougher challenge than the Chicago Cubs’ mediocre staff.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • Thinner fibers would allow researchers to embed more sensing elements into garments, potentially capturing finer details of body movement.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The new songs on Live at Carnegie Hall are some of Winter’s very finest.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fine

Browse Nearby Words

pass
passable
passably
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Cite this Entry

“Passable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passable. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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