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 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 Less explicable is the failure of international aid organizations, including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which have been conspicuously absent from the Dnipro’s left bank. Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 16 June 2023 Less explicable to some observers is the lack of any apparent PR attempt to rehabilitate Miller’s image. Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 14 June 2023 Most of the results are rather obvious and explicable. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 7 Sep. 2012 But maybe these startling effects are explicable. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2021 Agents say the arrival of migrants from distant countries is readily explicable: Intensified screening to board commercial airliners overseas and at passport control at American airports has led people from other hemispheres to try the Baja-to-San Diego small-boat run. New York Times, 28 Jan. 2021 But the eastern connections of the Munda languages seem clear, albeit less explicable than those of the Khasi or the Tibeto-Burman peoples of the far northeast. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2010 These are explicable in their origins and relationship. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2010

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'explicable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 29 Mar. 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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