ponderable

Definition of ponderablenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ponderable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ponderable are appreciable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, and tangible. While all these words mean "apprehensible as real or existent," ponderable suggests having definitely measurable weight or importance.

exerted a ponderable influence on world events

When could appreciable be used to replace ponderable?

In some situations, the words appreciable and ponderable are roughly equivalent. However, appreciable applies to what is distinctly discernible by the senses or definitely measurable.

an appreciable increase in income

Where would palpable be a reasonable alternative to ponderable?

The meanings of palpable and ponderable largely overlap; 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 can perceptible be used instead of ponderable?

The synonyms perceptible and ponderable are sometimes interchangeable, but perceptible applies to what can be discerned by the senses often to a minimal extent.

a perceptible difference in sound to a careful listener

When is sensible a more appropriate choice than ponderable?

While the synonyms sensible and ponderable are close in meaning, 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 ponderable?

The words tangible and ponderable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tangible suggests what is capable of being handled or grasped both physically and mentally.

no tangible evidence of UFOs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponderable
Adjective
  • The proximity makes a team’s flaws so obvious, which is why fans sometimes fixate on the three or four major problems with their team rather than highlight the strengths of the group.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Oakley said there were no obvious signs of foul play or trauma.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Several prominent fan groups have criticised the club’s summer transfer business and requested meetings with the Everton hierarchy.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Broadly speaking, many prominent Silicon Valley companies started in a place of technological service and innovation only to have more recently shifted into the dystopia business, and public sentiment has shifted in kind.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • For one thing, there’s that conspicuous six-page feature on Zara chair Marta Ortega Pérez — the 42-year-old daughter of 90-year-old founder Amancio Ortega — in Vogue‘s September issue.
    Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Trump’s approval ratings tanked, and the ICE surges into American cities were replaced by less conspicuous methods.
    Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The Republican turn against data centers is more striking because experts say that the party has positioned itself as pro-business.
    Maham Javaid, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026
  • With interiors largely shot inside Hossain’s own house in Dhaka, the film is filled with striking shots of animals — lizards galore, snakes, monkeys, and mosquitoes.
    Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • If Taron Johnson and the secondary hold up against complex passing schemes, the unit should take a noticeable leap in efficiency.
    David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Separate data from Indeed’s Job Postings Index also shows a seasonal ramp-up that is noticeable around Labor Day and the weeks that follow.
    Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • That wasn’t for a lack of skill, though, and his repertoire has again been evident this summer during another productive training camp.
    Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • That was quite evident at Evans on Saturday afternoon in this year’s edition of the Soul Bowl.
    Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Two years later, as massive success seemed like the Eagles’ manifest destiny, that tandem cut their bandmates out of a publishing deal, setting themselves up with a never-ending sinecure but setting their original quartet up to crumble.
    Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The books’ capacious geography felt like a girlish form of manifest destiny.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Quantifying the cost of disruptions — from fuel subsidies and emergency imports to lost output and idle workers — would make the case for resilience more tangible.
    Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • There’s no tangible title on the line in this one – there’s only perception.
    Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Ponderable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponderable. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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