Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective perceptible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of perceptible are appreciable, palpable, ponderable, sensible, and tangible. While all these words mean "apprehensible as real or existent," perceptible applies to what can be discerned by the senses often to a minimal extent.

a perceptible difference in sound to a careful listener

In what contexts can appreciable take the place of perceptible?

The words appreciable and perceptible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appreciable applies to what is distinctly discernible by the senses or definitely measurable.

an appreciable increase in income

When can palpable be used instead of perceptible?

While in some cases nearly identical to perceptible, palpable applies either to what has physical substance or to what is obvious and unmistakable.

the tension in the air was almost palpable

When is ponderable a more appropriate choice than perceptible?

The meanings of ponderable and perceptible largely overlap; however, ponderable suggests having definitely measurable weight or importance.

exerted a ponderable influence on world events

Where would sensible be a reasonable alternative to perceptible?

In some situations, the words sensible and perceptible are roughly equivalent. However, 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 perceptible?

Although the words tangible and perceptible have much in common, tangible suggests what is capable of being handled or grasped both physically and mentally.

no tangible evidence of UFOs

Examples 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 perceptible The slack in the line should only be very slight, perceptible more to you than to anyone else. Rosalind Brown, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 Anamnesis, 2023, is a knee-high resin prism that houses a scarcely perceptible object. Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024 The Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 drift On Wednesday, the Dow dropped 0.7% and the S&P 500 dropped a tidy 0.19%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added a barely perceptible 0.04%, as investors waited to see what Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell would say in a Thursday speech. Ian Mount, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2024 This is because the procedure uses extremely fine needles that are barely perceptible as they’re inserted into the body. Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for perceptible 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceptible
Adjective
  • With protests outside the courthouse audible inside the courtroom, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley instructed the jury to not listen to the words being yelled.
    Eric Levenson, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Such passengers' boarding passes will trigger an audible sound and display a message to gate agents.
    Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Related Articles There are some minor and barely noticeable physical improvements over previous models, such as a slightly less prominent camera bump in the back.
    Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Other experiments are less noticeable but nonetheless consequential: by increasing early voting, for example, states have observed changes in who participates in elections, including those previously left out of the process.
    Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • There’s no discernible change on Rip’s part, no concrete effort to preserve an old way of living or build a new one.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
  • Not ‘falling off a cliff’ The BLS also noted that there was no discernible effect in its household survey, which generates the unemployment rate.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The best way to use them is to fund them with appreciable assets.
    Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
  • The relatively complicated driver arrangement demonstrates its worth (again) with a presentation that’s neatly unified and of an appreciable whole.
    Simon Lucas, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near perceptible

Cite this Entry

“Perceptible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceptible. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on perceptible

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