Definition of practicablenext
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as in useful
capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose that flimsy little saw is not a very practicable tool for cutting heavy tree branches

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective practicable differ from other similar words?

The words feasible and possible are common synonyms of practicable. While all three words mean "capable of being realized," practicable implies that something may be effected by available means or under current conditions.

a solution that is not practicable in the time available

When is feasible a more appropriate choice than practicable?

The words feasible and practicable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, feasible applies to what is likely to work or be useful in attaining the end desired.

commercially feasible for mass production

In what contexts can possible take the place of practicable?

Although the words possible and practicable have much in common, possible implies that a thing may certainly exist or occur given the proper conditions.

a possible route up the west face of the mountain

Example 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 practicable The inmate can choose to decline the offer and be released as soon as possible or practicable. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026 Others wonder whether a revival of the uptown flagship is practicable. — David Moin, Footwear News, 11 June 2026 Those decisions should be made with a commitment to replenishing reserves as soon as practicable. — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 Under the settlement agreement, CSU must provide notice to employees as soon as reasonably practicable before complying with any subpoena for employees’ personal information unless notice would be prohibited by law or regulation, according to a statement from the California Faculty Association. — Edsource, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for practicable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practicable
Adjective
  • The students who stepped forward when their teacher collapsed playing basketball in Michigan illustrate what becomes possible when CPR skills are taught before they are needed.
    — Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The film team had to come up with a strategy to capture as much as possible without interfering with Schnell’s challenge.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Tesla still needs to prove the Roadster can be manufactured reliably and meet applicable regulations.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • According to Vertical, the LCR-110 meets applicable EASA and Federal Aviation Administration technical standards for inertial reference equipment.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Apple Vision Pro proved particularly useful for judging the scale of sets before physical construction.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • As Japan entered a period of political upheaval in the mid-nineteenth century, criminal gangs became useful in a new way.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Sherman said the expected completion date, about 41 months away, is an achievable goal.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But if quitting is not immediately achievable, moving away from combustible tobacco may reduce exposure to harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke.
    — Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • This is the practical discipline of moving ever onward in the face of ambiguity.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Its experimental results could help determine whether fast-spectrum molten chloride reactors can progress toward practical applications, including future maritime power systems.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Rolapp, meanwhile, said in January there was no guarantee the program that brought Koepka back would be available again.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • So the other, cheaper bird that’s for sale — the $2,000 bird that a clerk might have told her about — is that available in-house, or is that a special order?
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Unlike Hamas, which deliberately targets Israeli civilians, the IDF takes all feasible precautions to mitigate harm to civilians and operates under a structured targeting framework designed to ensure the identification of lawful military objectives.
    — Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Life sciences teams are working across increasingly large and complex datasets to answer research questions, identify patient populations and determine whether studies are feasible.
    — Sujay Jadhav, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Its analysis found that 74% of those mentions were tied to real-world projects rather than coursework, an indication students are trying to demonstrate their applied experience.
    — Corynn Winston, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
  • By combining aluminum’s low weight with a pre-applied coating, the company is targeting a way to make battery components easier to manufacture while meeting durability and insulation requirements.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Practicable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practicable. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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