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 Meadows’ death certificate later listed his cause of death as drowning with probable hypothermia. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 Both encode information in high-dimensional vectors, transform those representations using matrices and tensors and convert internal states into probable outputs. — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Across many parts of the city, 100% of properties are projected to face possible or probable subsidence risk in 2030, according to data from the British insurance company Aviva. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 11 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 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
  • The wait for season three will almost certainly be a bit shorter, with a return next fall seeming very plausible given the second season had an eight-month turnaround after filming wrapped.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
  • As a result, many senior Western officials are finally warning that a Russian attack on the EU is entirely plausible.
    — Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of plausible
Adjective
  • The South's joint chiefs said Saturday the military stepped up surveillance and vigilance for possible further launches from the North and was closely sharing information with the United States and Japan.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • As Yemen returns to a level of fighting intensity not seen since the 2022 truce, the civil war has entered a decisive phase, with several possible avenues forward.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • That gives the shape a credible, slow-build pedigree rather than a viral origin story.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The question of Palestinian statehood cannot be left for the end of a peace process, and the prospect of it must be credible to ensure Palestinians’ engagement with political renewal.
    — Michael Robbins, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of credible
Adjective
  • The path to closing the merger was often a rocky one and at times seemed likely to derail.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Other Grail investigators modeled the likely impact of their multicancer test, estimating a 25% reduction in the death rate for all cancers combined.
    — H. Gilbert Welch, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of likely
Adjective
  • Adam’s going to get his heart broken, and all of this seems so inevitable.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But some of it is also an inevitable byproduct of the media doing their job by investigating potential wrongdoing.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of inevitable
Adjective
  • Clayton also noted in the interview the task force would discuss potential legislative options that could be part of an AI framework moving forward.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • This year, Newsom signed more than 10 bills aimed at keeping young people safe from the potential harms of social media sites, artificial intelligence, addictive autoplay and more.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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