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

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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 Continuing his path to probable legend status at Real Madrid (albeit not everyone has been happy with him), the biggest club in the world. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 July 2026 According to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is a probable carcinogen. — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 The state paid contractors more than $372,000 during that time to remove the vessels from the water, according to his probable-cause warrant. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026 The other possibilities were immersion in extremely hot water or exposure to hot-water vapor, according to probable-cause affidavits obtained by Fox News Digital. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 20 July 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
  • In reality, the building lies horizontally beneath a giant mirror, and the impossible becomes entirely plausible.
    — Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • That’s why the Phillies’ Gage Wood idea is both silly and plausible.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of plausible
Adjective
  • High school athletes have four years to put themselves in the best possible position to be noticed by college recruiters, and playing time is hard to come by for most underclassmen.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
  • Our priority is to help as many team members as possible transition into opportunities within our other Sushi Confidential locations.
    — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • The danger is that any account of doomsday that feels credible can also feel domesticated.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026
  • That uncertainty is a breeding ground for open-weight alternatives, and right now the most credible ones are coming from China.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of credible
Adjective
  • All the research Matthews' group had conducted, along with weather data from the time of the crash, was synthesized to develop a map of the most likely location and a search area of 10 square nautical miles.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • In an 83-page opinion, Reyes said the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on the merits of the case — contrary to the ultimate ruling by the Supreme Court.
    — Jay Weaver July 22, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of likely
Adjective
  • That hour made clear that isolation is not an inevitable side effect of hospitalization, but rather a consequence of a care delivery structure that can, and should, change.
    — Anna Tsioulias, STAT, 29 July 2026
  • In the fickle economy of online fame, the Tates’ total saturation had an inevitable sell-by date.
    — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026
Definition of inevitable
Adjective
  • Using valuable land Candidate Stacy Lake said that the sports complex is valuable for future development because of how much flexibility the large site could have in its potential future use.
    — Ilana Arougheti July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
  • Transfer Turmoil will address the pros and cons of a potential one-time transfer rule.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
Definition of potential

Browse Nearby Words

probability
probable
probably
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Cite this Entry

“Probable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probable. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of probable for Spanish Speakers

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