plausible

Adjective

plausible (comparative more plausible, superlative most plausible)

1. Seemingly or apparently valid, likely, or acceptable; conceivably true or likely.
   • a plausible excuse
   • In short, the twin assumptions that syntactic rules are category-based, and that there are a highly restricted finite set of categories in any natural language (perhaps no more than a dozen major categories), together with the assumption that the child either knows (innately) or learns (by...1988, Andrew Radford, Transformative Grammar: A First Course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 64

   Synonyms:

   credible, believable, reasonable, tenable, specious

   Antonyms:

   implausible, incredible, unbelievable, far-fetched

2. Obtaining approbation; specifically pleasing; apparently right; specious.
   • a plausible pretext; plausible manners; a plausible delusion
3. (obsolete) Worthy of being applauded; praiseworthy; commendable; ready.
   • capable of receiving a plauſible Anſwer1693, John Hacket, Scrinia reserata: a Memorial offered to the great Deservings of John Williams
   • […] a coachman named Richard, who was described as a "sensible, well-behaved yellow boy, who is plausible and can read and write."1955, William H. Townsend, Lincoln and the Bluegrass: Slavery and Civil War in Kentucky