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 And the songs followed this logic, molting bit by bit, year over year, the changes barely perceptible in the moment, until a full evolution had occurred. Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2024 But during ninety remarkably fast-talking minutes in New York—verbally, both candidates are speed demons—the Ohio senator J. D. Vance moved the narrative of the race in a small but perceptible way toward the Republican side. Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2024 Improvements were barely perceptible to begin with but my doctor’s strategies proved helpful in time: a very dull and scrupulous diet, herbs for liver support, daily sweating, and crucially, charcoal tablets that bind with mould. Melissa Kenny, refinery29.com, 30 Oct. 2024 Alma implored rescuers to save her father, mother and five siblings after their home was hit by an Israeli strike, her voice barely perceptible in the haunting video captured on that fateful day. NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for perceptible 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceptible
Adjective
  • The sudden appearance of Elsie, who bears more than a passing resemblance to the character of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings movies, causes Snell to let out an audible gasp.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
  • This accessibility feature provides an audible narration of on-screen events that would otherwise not be discernible through dialog alone.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But his rhetoric has taken a noticeable rightward turn in the weeks since Trump’s election victory, particularly on immigration, with Adams boosting the president-elect’s platform and appearing enthusiastic about the incoming administration.
    Anthony Izaguirre and Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
  • In Sunday’s episode (Dec. 1), Moss wore sunglasses after fans showed concern after the Pro Football Hall of Famer appeared on television with a noticeable yellowish tint in his eyes.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The fallout of those efforts is discernible in the finished works.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Her co-star Riley Keough knew what was going on and guided Temple through it, but Temple has continued to have panic attacks throughout the years, often for no discernible reason at all.
    Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Authoritarian leaders ignore judges and courts with impunity, and adding courts to democracies has no appreciable effect on their protection of civic freedoms or minority rights.
    Ian Shapiro, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2014
  • The system boasts an overall accident rate of 1 to 1.35 preventable accidents with either personal injury or appreciable property damage per million miles traveled, which Hardesty said is an exceptional record by any standard.
    Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 20 Nov. 2024

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Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on perceptible

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