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
  • There are obvious questions there.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
  • This abuse of power was obvious and alarming.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • With the House vote on Monday, Duterte, who comes from one of the country’s most prominent political dynasties, became the first official in the Southeast Asian country’s history to be impeached twice.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 11 May 2026
  • In a hall occasionally pierced by air-raid sirens warning of Russian strikes, the event has united Ukraine’s most prominent galleries, artists, collectors, and cultural institutions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 May 2026
Adjective
  • Part of this is by design, from long corridors to the conspicuous absence of clocks, and the hour of the day doesn’t seem as important once inside the terminal.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 May 2026
  • There were other conspicuous blunders, like passing from midair out of jumpers and right to Lakers defenders.
    Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • In one of the evening’s most striking moments, Raman accused Bass and Pratt of working together to attack her.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • Tucked into the waterfront of the beloved oceanside town of Bar Harbor, West Street Hotel boasts lavish guest rooms with striking views of meandering sailboats and the craggy Atlantic coast.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • The Moon moves through your 10th House of Visibility, where your structure is more noticeable.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The combination of skilled care, more affordable pricing, and the appeal of travelling for treatment has shaped a noticeable trend.
    K.H. Koehler, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • That kind of democratization of luxury is evident in Berryman’s interior, with a layout that combines guests and crew rather than separates them.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 May 2026
  • At La Grand’Vigne, chef Nicolas Masse’s reverence for nature and terroir is evident from the get-go.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • Sometimes a person opens the top of their skull to reach inside; in her painting Threading the Story Through the Eye of a Needle (circa 1974), a hand pulls a line of thread through a pupil, towing two tiny people in a boat, suggesting both sight and an idea made manifest.
    Nicole Rudick, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The truth of those words is manifest in the myriad structures from the Mughal era (1526–1857) that have survived for centuries after the fall of the empire, which at its height stretched across nearly the entire Indian subcontinent.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But this hand-wringing has led to little tangible reform.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • Hand Me Downs is a series, with a new essay appearing each day through Mother’s Day, celebrating the gifts—tangible and intangible—that our mothers give us.
    Lucie Franc de Ferriere, Vogue, 10 May 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 12 May. 2026.

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