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implausibility

implausibility

2 8.2
A situation when a story or excuse does not seem true
  • noun
  • /ɪmˌplɔːzəˈbɪlɪti/
translation icon : implausibilidad
  • The implausibility of such books is not dependent, however, on specific errors like those.
  • demonstrate the implausibility

Examples

  • Skeptics were quick to point out the implausibility of the bizarre tracks.

  • The detective noted the implausibility of the suspect's alibi during the investigation.

  • Not that Hollywood is likely to let a little thing like implausibility stop them.

    Blog text (10)
  • But the emphasis was on the implausibility of a military strike.

    Blog text (22)
  • The history of science shows the implausibility of Kuhn's wholesale model of change.

    Academic text (1991)
  • As Econbrowser readers might recall, Heritage has never rebutted the charges of implausibility.

    Blog text (26)
  • There were telltale implausibilities in this epochal document, but it was widely credited.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The strength of the epistemological argument for the market depends in part on the implausibility of assuming that all knowledge could be centralized upon some particular planning agency.

    Academic text (1990)
  • When Obama pointed out the implausibility of Mitt creating a hundred thousand jobs, even Democrats wailed, "Don't attack Bain."

    Blog text (7)
  • The most glaring implausibility in Destroyer is Bombaata, the character played by former NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain.

    Blog text (15)

Synonyms

improbability
vsimplausibility
4 7.0

How unlikely something is to happen or be true

focuses on how believable or credible something seems rather than chance
unlikeliness
vsimplausibility
1 5.6

A low chance that something will happen

centers on lack of credibility rather than on chance of occurring
incredibility
vsimplausibility
1 8.8

A feeling of not believing something because it seems unlikely

expresses doubt or low credibility rather than absolute impossibility
inconceivability
vsimplausibility
1 9.9

The state of being impossible to imagine or believe

applies to doubt about credibility rather than being beyond imagination
implausibleness
vsimplausibility
8.5

A quality that makes people doubt something because it seems untrue

is the more common or standard form in modern usage
improbableness
vsimplausibility
9.4

The state of being unlikely to happen or be true

emphasizes doubt about credibility rather than just low probability
unbelievability
vsimplausibility
7.0

The quality of being impossible to accept as true

highlights doubt about credibility rather than claiming utter impossibility

Antonyms

11 7.0

How likely something is to be true

How Believable

certainty
  • Literature
202 3.4
credibility
462 4.0
plausibility
11 7.0
dubiousness
1 7.8
implausibility
2 8.2
absurdity
54 6.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

implausibility = implausible (transparent) = im + plausible + ity

Standard noun formation from the adjective 'implausible' using the productive suffix '-ity'; the negative prefix 'im-' and the resulting meaning 'state of being not plausible' are clear.

Etymology

Implausibility starts with im- meaning 'not' and the rest, plausible, is related to applause — a helpful way to remember is that 'plausible' once meant 'worthy of praise', so implausibility is the quality of being 'not believable'.