1
2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sensible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sensible are appreciable, palpable, perceptible, ponderable, and tangible. While all these words mean "apprehensible as real or existent," sensible applies to whatever is clearly apprehended through the senses or impresses itself strongly on the mind.

an abrupt, sensible drop in temperature

In what contexts can appreciable take the place of sensible?

The words appreciable and sensible can be used in similar contexts, but appreciable applies to what is distinctly discernible by the senses or definitely measurable.

an appreciable increase in income

When is palpable a more appropriate choice than sensible?

While in some cases nearly identical to sensible, palpable applies either to what has physical substance or to what is obvious and unmistakable.

the tension in the air was almost palpable

When might perceptible be a better fit than sensible?

The meanings of perceptible and sensible largely overlap; however, 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 could ponderable be used to replace sensible?

Although the words ponderable and sensible have much in common, ponderable suggests having definitely measurable weight or importance.

exerted a ponderable influence on world events

Where would tangible be a reasonable alternative to sensible?

The synonyms tangible and sensible are sometimes interchangeable, but tangible suggests what is capable of being handled or grasped both physically and mentally.

no tangible evidence of UFOs

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 sensible Because the Call of Duty test can produce triple-digit frame rates even on low-end PCs, running it at maximum detail settings delivers sensible results to evaluate high-frame-rate performance. PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2025 For soft-skill matters such as advice, sycophancy in AI chatbots can be especially dangerous, Cheng said, because there's no certainty about whether its guidance is sensible. Emma Bowman, NPR, 5 Aug. 2025 That’s the premise behind stablecoins - crypto’s sensible sibling. Kjartan Rist, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 During this transition season — one that prioritized player development from the start — building towards the future was the sensible solution. Katie Woo, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sensible
Adjective
  • However, many fear this will eventually result in noticeable price hikes for consumers.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
  • But a noticeable upswing in Perseid activity begins during the second week of August, leading up to their peak night.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Determining adjacent products like donuts for coffee and chips for sodas is logical.
    Tamara Bebb, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Many have read Gödel and come away chastened by the limits of certainty—without concluding, as Richardson did, that the logical next step was to spend your life playing cards and paying prostitutes.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Regardless of what the future holds, Roman Anthony has set himself and his family up for life, and the Red Sox have locked in yet another piece of their future at a reasonable rate.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • There’s a reasonable fear, especially considering what happened the last time Cunningham mentioned the trend, that this would only attract additional misogynistic attacks.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Scrolling LinkedIn, you are effectively being made aware of all your problems, by people trying to sell you the solution.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Many whites were aware of a lack of Black voter participation in the South but often lacked a deeper understanding of its causes and consequences.
    Time, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Sir Charlie Mayfield, a stalwart of the UK business community and advisor to Liz Kendall, Work and Pensions Secretary, has recently been quoted in The Times stating that employers have a ‘rational’ fear of hiring disabled staff.
    Nancy Doyle, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The irony was that Harlem’s numbers queen, a model of rational risk-taking, found herself in a love triangle with a dream-book mystic—then took to the newspapers to denounce Futtam’s obvious impostures.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Be aware of your surroundings: If running outdoors, be conscious of holes on trails, traffic on streets, or others around you.
    Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The process begins by applying several existing tests to healthy adults: people who scientists can be confident are conscious.
    Mariana Lenharo & Nature magazine, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There isn’t an appreciable difference between the two.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 July 2025
  • The Heat sees upside with Johnson, but there hasn’t been appreciable growth this summer.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Under the current system, in which benefits are based on a worker’s contributions, the only coherent way to raise the revenue needed to close the remaining gap would be by increasing the payroll tax.
    Ben Ritz, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The world no longer presents itself in coherent phrases.
    Alaa Alqaisi August 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sensible. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sensible

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!