passable

adjective

pass·​able ˈpa-sə-bəl How to pronounce passable (audio)
Synonyms of passablenext
1
a
: capable of being passed, crossed, or traveled on
passable roads
b
: capable of being freely circulated
2
: good enough : adequate
passably
ˈpa-sə-blē How to pronounce passable (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of passable

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Examples of passable in a Sentence

The main road is passable but most others are still covered with snow. The river is passable during the summer months. He did a passable job with the assignment. She plays passable golf but prefers tennis.
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.
There were 23 routes that were not passable and another 19 identified that had cautions, McDermott said. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Less than 10% of the country’s roads are passable year-round, and frequent power shortages force mining companies to rely on diesel generators, increasing costs. — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The acting is passable, more or less, but dialogue is often rigidly expository or cliché or both. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026 Energy analysts have warned that oil and natural gas prices are likely to remain elevated until the strait is passable, even as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates seek to expand other routes to get their crude to market. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for passable

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of passable was in the 15th century

Rhymes for passable

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Browse Nearby Words

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passably
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Cite this Entry

“Passable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passable. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

passable

adjective
pass·​able ˈpas-ə-bəl How to pronounce passable (audio)
1
: capable of being passed, crossed, or traveled on
passable roads
2
: barely good enough : tolerable
a passable imitation
passably
-blē How to pronounce passable (audio)
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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