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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

Examples 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 To become a globally practicable system, the flexibility of the startup’s model doesn’t fix all nations into the same scoring method; different countries can emphasize attributes relevant to their region. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 26 Sep. 2024 This includes checking the citizenship status of federal-only voters against an immigration status verification service provided by the Department of Homeland Security when practicable. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2024 Anyone running a vulnerable version should update as soon as practicable. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 2 July 2024 To avoid wasting funds on programs that often serve as life support for local defense industries, EU countries should pool their resources whenever practicable. Stuart E. Eizenstat, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2010 See all Example Sentences for practicable 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practicable
Adjective
  • People can stay safe from possible carbon monoxide poisoning by taking precautionary measures.
    Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Prior to Tuesday night’s filing, Spiro had pushed for expediting the mayor’s case as much as possible, requesting shorter timelines and pushing for his trial to start as early as March.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • That's going to be most applicable for higher-income Americans, who are more likely to be affected by some of the changes.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Boost members receive free delivery in as little as 2 hours at $12.99 per month or $99 per year, plus applicable taxes.
    Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Capsules are a convenient supplement option, while liquid is useful when cooking.
    Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Crown corporations can be very useful, but many are hard to justify in a time of rapidly increasing costs and taxes.
    Wal van Lierop, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Take this time to prepare for future energy needs with practical savings.
    Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The overall picture is that the physiology is real, but the practical effects seem to be too small to measure.
    Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • For fans attending Rays games, most parking will be available across the street at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
    Chris Kirschner, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
  • For products costing more than $99.99—such as all Pixel smartphones—this support now needs to be available for seven years.
    Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Here’s why pre-filtering isn’t feasible: Shared Storage: A single database might contain texts from multiple contacts, app communications, and system logs all in one file.
    Lars Daniel, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Following the hibernation period, NASA decided to reactivate the WISE spacecraft under the NEOWISE mission, with a more specialized focus on detecting near-Earth objects, which was still feasible even without the cryogenic cooling.
    Toshi Hirabayashi, Discover Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • An applied micro-economist, Bertrand conducts research in the fields of labor economics, corporate finance, political economy and development economics.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
  • But scientists funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the largest funder of basic and applied research, typically experience gaps in funding of 2 to 3 years each, a 2023 study found.
    ByJeffrey Brainard, science.org, 1 Aug. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near practicable

Cite this Entry

“Practicable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practicable. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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