ponderable

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
  • However, the severity of the storm soon became obvious.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • After curing the potatoes, pick through them once more and remove any potatoes with obvious signs of damage.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the first few months that initiative has closed down two homeless camps, including a prominent one in Fountain Square, and housed 30 people living in them, according to project leaders.
    Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The series traces what was going on with the prominent Murdaugh family in the years before Alex was convicted of shooting and killing Maggie and Paul on their family farm in 2021 and found guilty of two counts of possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Perhaps not surprisingly, the paper’s conspicuous treatment of crime news in his city ranked among the mayor’s chief objections to business as usual in the newsroom.
    Nick Woltman, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The sight of unsupervised children playing or walking or riding a bike gradually became conspicuous and, too often, triggered the involvement of police or child-welfare authorities.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • An artillery round fired over Interstate 5 at Sunday’s live-fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton prematurely detonated, striking and damaging a California Highway Patrol vehicle that was part of Vice President JD Vance’s detail, the CHP said Sunday.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The striking arrow shapes are an empowering accessory, yet there’s a subtlety in the muted bronze, ebony, and antique diamonds (which have a softer shimmer than modern cuts).
    Jill Newman, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Private aviation also saw a noticeable bump there in 2022 as a result of wealthy buyers looking to avoid public transportation.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Aldi's Thanksgiving meal bundle this year feeds ten people for just $40, a noticeable markdown from last year's deal.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Hackman was not only a collector but an artist himself, and his approach to collecting mirrors the care, aesthetic sensibility, and discipline evident in his own artistic practice.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Set the Tone at the Front Door The sense of escape is even evident at the front of the house, where a rose plant climbs across the archway and herbs are planted along the gravel driveway.
    Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • These concerns stem from high levels of speculative investment—totaling hundreds of billions of dollars—in artificial intelligence with few manifest payoffs, as well as the market’s top-heavy structure, with significant value concentrated in a handful of AI-bullish tech stocks.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • In that vacuum, religious zealots and cults manifest, nihilism thrives, and families are torn apart.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Al-Sudani, who rose to power after that upheaval, insisted his government had taken tangible steps to restore public trust, such as economic progress and political stability.
    Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
  • These national figures highlight the tangible effects that immigration policies can have on local communities.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
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 22 Oct. 2025.

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