Words / C1

im-PLORZ-uh-bl/ɪmˈplɔːzəbl/

Implausible means not seeming reasonable or likely to be true: an implausible claim, an implausible alibi. Plausible (already in the dictionary) sits opposite; unlikely is milder. “The printer jammed” is still an audit fail if the n is missing.

Meaning

Not seeming reasonable or likely to be true.

Examples

• “An implausible alibi for the missing n — “the printer jammed” — still fails audit.”
• “Unlikely is milder. Incredible is hotter. A jam is a story. A count is a file. Restore the n; keep the jam for the IT ticket.”

Good to know

Hard to believe; not convincing. Opposite: plausible (already in the dictionary). A jam story ≠ a filled n.

Near in meaning

unlikely, unconvincing, incredible

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