probable

adjective

ˈprä-bə-bəl How to pronounce probable (audio)
Definition of probablenext
1
as in plausible
worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable the counselor could find no probable reason for the girl's bizarre actions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in possible
having a high chance of occurring a probable outcome of the price increase will be lower consumption

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 probable That description equally well applies to our probable timeline on this planet, the way things are progressing. — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 The more probable future is a heterogeneous computing environment where classical high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum processors collaborate. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 So far, 52 confirmed or probable measles cases have been reported in Iowa County, 43 in Lafayette County and three in Grant County, the state's measles tracker shows. — Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2026 There have also been three other probable human cases in northern Illinois, officials said. — Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for probable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probable
  1. plausible
  2. possible
  3. credible
  4. likely
  5. inevitable
  6. potential
Adjective
  • That sounds like a plausible enough explanation for why Pike’s seemingly lost two weeks’ worth of memories.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Expect the trend to sharpen into its own lane over the next 12 to 18 months, with three plausible developments worth tracking.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of plausible
Adjective
  • Competitors had to lift them onto podiums at different heights in the quickest time possible.
    — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Several tornadoes possible near Kauai and Niihau, and a few possible elsewhere.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Such cooperation is increasingly important as the United States and its allies seek to improve interoperability and maintain credible airpower across the Indo-Pacific.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The voices warning about the risks of artificial intelligence grow louder, more urgent and increasingly credible every day.
    — Henry M. Paulson Jr, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of credible
Adjective
  • The Trocheck trade with the Mammoth brought back, in part, defenseman Sean Durzi, who’s likely to play on the Rangers’ second pair behind Fox.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Both consumer and producer price inflation are likely to ease should energy flows in the Gulf region normalize over the coming months, Nam noted.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of likely
Adjective
  • But one thing that didn’t happen in that time, arguably more inevitable than all of the above, was Enzo Fernandez moving from Chelsea to Manchester City.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • People close to Newsom privately speculated that the culprit might be a foreign power looking to undermine the California governor’s seemingly inevitable 2028 presidential campaign.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of inevitable
Adjective
  • In addition to the potential hurricane-force wind gusts, tornadoes are possible near the two islands, and heavy rains are expected throughout the main islands, the hurricane center's specialists warned.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2026
  • None of us are immune to the potential downside of new technologies.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of potential

Browse Nearby Words

probability
probable
probably
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Probable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probable. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of loath

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All