plausibly

adverb

Definition of plausiblynext
as in reasonably

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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 plausibly For every critical outcome, leadership should be able to identify a number of underlying behaviors or conditions that plausibly produce it. — Janita Pannu, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Compulsory worship with frightening dogma, which could lead you equally plausibly to heaven or hell. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 Which means the actors who played Bullock’s daughters in the originals are now too old to plausibly play college-ish. — Danielle Pergament, Allure, 14 Sep. 2026 Either squad could have plausibly won the 2021 Western Conference in a relatively down year. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 This reading may be plausibly explained by the winter weather and by the effects of a catastrophic spinal-cord injury. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026 Preventing the development of an Iranian nuclear weapon is surely a vital interest, and destroying Iran’s nuclear program is a clear objective that was plausibly attainable. — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026 And while the characters could plausibly be of our world, Sterling Point, the place, might as well be a fairy tale land. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 The researchers compared each graduate’s actual first employer against every other firm that plausibly could have hired them, then measured how the presence of fellow Ivy Leaguers at those firms shaped where graduates actually landed. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plausibly
  1. reasonably
  2. conceivably
  3. practically
  4. possibly
  5. perhaps
Adverb
  • But the smartest among them—or just the most ambitious—might reasonably conclude that the way to be funny for a living is to get very good at talking to their friends and interviewing people.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Are there simply too many scary movies, or just more than any one fan can reasonably follow?
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of reasonably
Adverb
  • Merkley and Daines are trying to find changes that everyone can live with, so their ideas could conceivably pass no matter who wins in November.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Democrats will have a difficult time flipping the Senate, where Republicans hold a three-seat majority, but could conceivably do so in a blue wave year.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of conceivably
Adverb
  • The actress is an enormously entertaining presence, and the premise practically begs for an explosive music video finale.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Mark Folk, one of Bob’s closest friends since college, remembers Bob going from barely running to entering races practically every weekend.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of practically
Adverb
  • Democrats must decide whether to take the deal in front of them or, possibly with a congressional majority next year, craft a version more to their liking that may be met with staunch GOP opposition and, thus, gridlock purgatory yet again.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Vaquer and Lynch couldn’t even agree on where to set up a table to possibly take Morgan out for good.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of possibly
Adverb
  • Better assignments could follow, perhaps a pay rise or promotion.
    — Christoph Trattner, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The Brewers’ final tying blow came on William Contreras’ fifth-inning homer against Kris Bubic, who has struggled in this postseason and perhaps shouldn’t have been in the game.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of perhaps

Browse Nearby Words

plausibleness
plausibly
play
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Cite this Entry

“Plausibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plausibly. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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