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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 The Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) has identified the first probable case of West Nile Virus in the county this year. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Oakland County announced its first probable case of West Nile virus in 2026, following six other human cases confirmed in Michigan so far. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026 Swain expects future waves of humidity are probable in coming years. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 That’s why a slow start is possible, and maybe even probable. — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 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
  • Longer term, perhaps as early as 15 years from now but more likely longer, a Kessler-syndrome type outcome may start to become increasingly plausible.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
  • And Talarico, in particular, may have a plausible path to victory.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of plausible
Adjective
  • Every metre between two chips adds a nanosecond to the processing time, so the idea is to pack as many as possible closely together.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026
  • And for people who work overnight or face an occasional period of severe sleep loss, getting enough rest may not always be possible in the moment.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Linking each of the songs is Chesney’s warm, conversational vocal approach that makes each song feel even more lived-in and credible.
    — Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Of greater importance, Iran would find these proposals more credible and more worthy of its consideration.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of credible
Adjective
  • Myanmar citizens living abroad are less likely to be openly critical on social media or attend fundraisers and demonstrations that could be monitored out of fear of having future passport renewals rejected.
    — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026
  • That could be a big problem for Mexico and the southwestern United States, as the normal dipping troughs of October and November will be more likely to turn these storms northward towards land.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of likely
Adjective
  • With all that said, there are still a lot of pleasures in this production that remain failsafe, even after the ride toward a way-too-inevitable outcome is firmly on its tracks.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Too many executives have been able to disregard the recommendations of their sustainability colleagues, finding ways of delaying difficult but inevitable decisions and avoiding short-term pain at the cost of longer-term gain.
    — Johannes Teyssen, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of inevitable
Adjective
  • But hair loss is also a potential symptom of PMOS, which stands for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, a common hormonal disorder that affects about 5 to 6 million women in the United States.
    — Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Mike Leigh’s latest and potential last feature, Tender Loving Care, has won the San Sebastián Film Festival’s top prize, the Golden Shell, alongside the award for Best Screenplay.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Sep. 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 30 Sep. 2026.

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