explicable

adjective

ex·​pli·​ca·​ble ek-ˈspli-kə-bəl How to pronounce explicable (audio) ˈek-(ˌ)spli- How to pronounce explicable (audio)
: capable of being explained
explicably
ek-ˈspli-kə-blē How to pronounce explicable (audio)
ˈek-(ˌ)spli-
adverb

Examples of explicable in a Sentence

phenomena explicable by the laws of physics the mystery of those strange noises became quite explicable once we realized that a colony of bats had taken up residence
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As ever, the director stamps it all with his unique aesthetic preferences, which are very deliberate if not always explicable. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Aug. 2024 The high-octane algorithms that power our current artificial intelligence boom have a way of doing things that aren’t outwardly explicable to the people observing them. Lucas Ropek / Gizmodo, Quartz, 23 May 2024 That has fundamentally undermined the prospect of a two-state solution, which, despite its flaws, is the best way forward to respect the explicable demand by both national communities for self-determination. Richard English, TIME, 17 May 2024 And, the panel said, even if there were a disparate impact on Asian Americans, the plaintiff would still lose because of insufficient evidence of discriminatory intent; the policy itself was race-blind and explicable as an effort to seek diversity rather than to harm Asian Americans. Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for explicable 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin explicābilis "capable of being unraveled," from explicāre "to free from folds or creases, unroll, disentangle, spread out, set out in words" + + -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy (of being acted upon)" — more at explicate, -able

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of explicable was in 1545

Dictionary Entries Near explicable

Cite this Entry

“Explicable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explicable. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

explicable

adjective
ex·​pli·​ca·​ble ek-ˈsplik-ə-bəl How to pronounce explicable (audio) ˈek-(ˌ)splik- How to pronounce explicable (audio)
: able to be explained
explicably adverb

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