faintly plausible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "faintly plausible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat believable or credible, but not entirely convincing. Example: "The theory presented by the author was faintly plausible, but lacked substantial evidence to support it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

All this played out sensationally in the press, accompanied by faintly plausible but unenchanting reproductions.

The New Yorker

Anyone who feels this response is even faintly plausible would do well to consult the exhaustive report on Unit 61398 of the People's Liberation Army, published last year by cybersecurity firm Mandiant.

The Guardian - Opinion

Perhaps it will take another landslide defeat for the GOP to recognize that simply opposing Obama without offering even a faintly plausible alternative is a recipe for electoral disaster.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association — so often derided for its faintly rackety reputation, but praised for an enjoyable and unpretentious televised awards ceremony — has released a strong and plausible nomination list for the 2014 Golden Globes.

The Guardian - Film

Lane looked faintly interrupted.

Yale University

Prof. Richard Dawkins smiles faintly.

The New York Times - Science

Faintly, maybe.

The Guardian - Opinion

Barnes looks faintly harassed.

The New Yorker

Her voice came faintly.

The New Yorker

His eyes blinked faintly.

The New Yorker

Klitschko smiled faintly.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "faintly plausible" to describe ideas or explanations that have a surface-level believability but lack substantial evidence or depth. It's effective for nuanced arguments.

Common error

Avoid using "faintly plausible" when something is clearly illogical or impossible. The phrase suggests a degree of believability, however small, that should be genuinely present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "faintly plausible" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the degree to which something is believable or credible. It indicates a weak or slight plausibility, as supported by Ludwig AI's assessment and examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "faintly plausible" is a phrase used to describe something that has a slight degree of believability but isn't entirely convincing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its utility in expressing measured skepticism. While not frequently used (Ludwig data shows it as rare), it appears mainly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely allows for a small degree of plausibility, and consider alternatives like "slightly believable" or "somewhat credible" for different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly believable

Replaces "faintly" with "slightly", keeping the same meaning of a small degree of believability.

somewhat credible

Substitutes both words to convey a similar level of partial believability or trustworthiness.

marginally convincing

Uses "marginally" to indicate a slight degree of persuasiveness instead of "faintly plausible".

barely tenable

Replaces "plausible" with "tenable", suggesting that something is just capable of being defended or maintained.

remotely feasible

Changes "plausible" to "feasible", implying something is possibly able to be done, though not necessarily likely.

weakly supported

Focuses on the lack of strong support for something, rather than its inherent believability.

questionably valid

Suggests that the plausibility is in doubt, making it a less positive assessment.

dubiously credible

Implies a stronger sense of doubt about the credibility of something.

nominally possible

Emphasizes that something is only theoretically possible, with little practical chance.

theoretically plausible

Highlights that the plausibility exists in theory but may not hold in practice.

FAQs

How can I use "faintly plausible" in a sentence?

"Faintly plausible" is used to describe something that seems believable on the surface but lacks strong evidence. For example, "His explanation was "faintly plausible", but I needed more proof to be convinced".

What are some alternatives to "faintly plausible"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly believable", "somewhat credible", or "marginally convincing" to express a similar idea.

Is "faintly plausible" a formal or informal expression?

"Faintly plausible" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in written or spoken scenarios that require a degree of nuance. It is appropriate for neutral contexts.

What does "faintly" mean in "faintly plausible"?

In the phrase ""faintly plausible"", "faintly" means to a small degree or slightly. It indicates that something is only somewhat believable or credible.