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 Heat are muddling along with a roster that isn’t good enough to do anything of significance, have no young player with obvious star upside, can’t create significant cap room for at least two more years and owe a future pick to the Hornets from the disastrous Terry Rozier trade.
    Nick Friedell, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
  • There is no obvious sign any of the officers were injured.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Healthcare Failures That Put Lives at Risk Healthcare has emerged as an increasingly prominent concern in recent reports.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Medical imaging, including radiology — X-rays, mammograms, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound — is a prominent area for AI diagnostic tools.
    Peter Shen, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The photo’s presence in the Legacy Museum was particularly conspicuous at this moment.
    Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Leaders of RideSD, a small transit advocacy organization that is becoming steadily more vocal and conspicuous, say the group’s emergence comes at the perfect time.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • One striking example is UHZ1, which reveals that accreting supermassive black holes were already in place just 470 million years after the Big Bang, with masses roughly 10 million times that of the sun.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The end result is a striking space that feels entirely unique, even in a region as architecturally eclectic as Southern California.
    Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • That contrast is becoming more noticeable as their professional paths diverge.
    Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
  • But there’s been a noticeable uptick in the team’s willingness to hit their blue-collar big man on rolls to the rim, which is opening an underutilized dimension of an offense that stagnated in the weeks leading up to their back-to-back wins over the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The frustration was evident during last week’s introductory hearings for budget committees.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Eco effort There’s no single-use plastic evident throughout Katara Towers.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The chance to get the scoop on the scandal straight from the mouth of the man who made it, as well as his living-the-dream experience of working alongside his hero, is enough to make this required viewing for anyone interested in hip-hop legacies and fanboy fantasies made manifest.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The region’s North African influences (Tunisia lies just across the coast) are acutely manifest in its cuisine—San Vito Lo Capo hosts an annual couscous festival and chickpea fritters, pistachios, and spices such as saffron and cinnamon feature across many of its restaurants’ menus.
    Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • And at least that threat is tangible.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The United States has sought to mediate, holding meetings as recently as Sunday, though those talks ended without tangible results.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ponderable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponderable. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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!