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
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.
Jason Ritter plays Julian’s scenes in this episode with raw emotion, making the character’s choices more explicable, if not entirely forgivable. Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025 An extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws, and is therefore attributed to a divine agency? Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 The economy was profoundly more explicable. William Tarr, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 Gender, like art, Peters argues, is not always explicable. Grace Byron, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for explicable

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

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Cite this Entry

“Explicable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explicable. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on explicable

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