ponderable

adjective

Definition of ponderablenext
as in obvious

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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
  1. obvious
  2. prominent
  3. conspicuous
  4. striking
  5. noticeable
  6. evident
  7. manifest
  8. tangible
Adjective
  • After Son left in the summer to join MLS side Los Angeles FC, there was no obvious alternative apart from Guglielmo Vicario.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
  • If the main subject isn’t obvious across most frames, the video often won’t show up in search.
    — Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of obvious
Adjective
  • His is the most prominent case under the 2020 law and marks a severe blow to press freedom.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Yet in the ensuing years, prominent people in business, finance, politics, and academia continued to associate with him.
    — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of prominent
Adjective
  • Trump’s steamrolling of anything, including the Constitution, that might impede his authoritarian project has made the limpness of the Democratic opposition more conspicuous.
    — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
  • For those who are well versed in mushrooms in Southern California, there isn’t a sense of alarm of possible poisonings because the toxic mushrooms are a lot less conspicuous in the southern part of the state.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of conspicuous
Adjective
  • One of the most striking demonstrations involved encoding an image of the Mona Lisa into the smart skin.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
  • While the extremely volatile cryptocurrency has been put through the wringer on several occasions over the years, the decline comes at a striking moment.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of striking
Adjective
  • The gusty and chilly winds will also be noticeable, especially on Thursday.
    — Steven Sosna, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Officials said the smell of gas was noticeable across multiple locations throughout the city.
    — Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of noticeable
Adjective
  • The shift away from historically high-paying, white-collar jobs is already evident in the choices Gen Z is making.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • That should be evident for the next six weeks around the Charlotte Sports Complex, as pitchers and catchers — many of whom have already been there working out — formally report Wednesday and take the field for the first official session Thursday morning.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of evident
Adjective
  • The chance to get the scoop on the scandal straight from the mouth of the man who made it, as well as his living-the-dream experience of working alongside his hero, is enough to make this required viewing for anyone interested in hip-hop legacies and fanboy fantasies made manifest.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The region’s North African influences (Tunisia lies just across the coast) are acutely manifest in its cuisine—San Vito Lo Capo hosts an annual couscous festival and chickpea fritters, pistachios, and spices such as saffron and cinnamon feature across many of its restaurants’ menus.
    — Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of manifest
Adjective
  • And artwork that responds to and reflects social movements can be a tangible community-building force itself, artists say.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
  • So, too, did this orientation to detail deepen those less tangible matters simmering behind the portrait subjects’ eyes and in their aura.
    — Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of tangible
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.

Browse Nearby Words

ponder
ponderable
pondered
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Cite this Entry

“Ponderable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponderable. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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