ponderable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ponderable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ponderable are appreciable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, and tangible. While all these words mean "apprehensible as real or existent," ponderable suggests having definitely measurable weight or importance.

exerted a ponderable influence on world events

When could appreciable be used to replace ponderable?

In some situations, the words appreciable and ponderable are roughly equivalent. However, appreciable applies to what is distinctly discernible by the senses or definitely measurable.

an appreciable increase in income

Where would palpable be a reasonable alternative to ponderable?

The meanings of palpable and ponderable largely overlap; however, palpable applies either to what has physical substance or to what is obvious and unmistakable.

the tension in the air was almost palpable

When can perceptible be used instead of ponderable?

The synonyms perceptible and ponderable are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 is sensible a more appropriate choice than ponderable?

While the synonyms sensible and ponderable are close in meaning, sensible applies to whatever is clearly apprehended through the senses or impresses itself strongly on the mind.

an abrupt, sensible drop in temperature

When might tangible be a better fit than ponderable?

The words tangible and ponderable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tangible suggests what is capable of being handled or grasped both physically and mentally.

no tangible evidence of UFOs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponderable
Adjective
  • With such a depleted draft stash, the Bucks don't have any obvious levers to pull to help bolster their supporting cast alongside Antetokounmpo and Lillard.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Still, Strider was frustrated for obvious reasons and searching for answers.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Among them was the explanation that Wuhan – the Chinese city where the virus first began spreading – is home to a prominent virology lab.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Greer served as chief of staff to then-trade representative Robert Lighthizer during the first Trump administration, giving him a front row seat and a prominent role in negotiations with China on tariffs and an eventual trade agreement.
    Brett Samuels, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In a world where customers expect companies to have a point of view, the absence of one is conspicuous.
    Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • For starters, Miller found that notice of the arbitration clause was sufficiently conspicuous to Lori.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The 26-room boutique spans three levels of the striking Torre Virreyes, a jutting showpiece of the skyline with views stretching into the Bosque de Chapultepec, the region’s largest urban park, once home of Aztec and Habsburg emperors.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
  • In an attempt to balance ticket prices and food, a striking trend has been emerging.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Use the dome light and flashers to make your vehicle more noticeable.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • But within weeks, the change in sentiment was noticeable.
    Pradeep Prasana Kanagaraj, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Political representatives are sensitive to elections, as is evident in the close races in Florida on April 1.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Clark's influence on the popularity of women's basketball over the last year has been evident in various statistics.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The truth of that is likewise manifest in the tribunal itself, a supposedly impartial institution that never attempts to bring U.S. leaders to trial for acts the whole world witnesses.
    Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
  • But give a motorcycle an electric powertrain, which a growing number now offer, and new possibilities become manifest.
    William Roberson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Yet in our increasingly digital world, the tangible nature of oracle and tarot decks offers a rare form of material connection—something to hold, shuffle, and physically engage with outside the digital realm.
    Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Questions were raised over Putin’s motives in calling the brief halt to hostilities, which came just after the Trump administration threatened to abandon peace efforts without tangible signs of progress.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Ponderable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponderable. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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