-able
(Latin: a suffix; expressing capacity, fitness to do that which can be handled or managed, suitable skills to accomplish something; capable of being done, something which can be finished, etc.)
A suffix that forms adjectives. The suffix -ible has related meanings; expressing ability, capacity, fitness; capable of, fit for, able to be done, can be done, inclined to, tending to, given to.
This list is only a small sample of the thousands of -able words that exist in English.
profitable (adjective), more profitable, most profitable
1. Able to yield advantageous or lucrative earnings: That year the investments in the company were worthwhile and very profitable.
2. Susceptible to be of some use, benefit, or advantage to a person: The staff meeting at the end of the school day proved to be profitable because many of the questions the teachers had were answered satisfactorily.
2. Susceptible to be of some use, benefit, or advantage to a person: The staff meeting at the end of the school day proved to be profitable because many of the questions the teachers had were answered satisfactorily.
programmable (adjective) (not comparable)
An apparatus or an operation that is capable of being instructed to do something automatically: Virginia's new washing machine is programmable with different cycles for different kinds of clothes to be washed.
prolongable (adjective), more prolongable, most prolongable
Capable of being extended or lengthened in time: A good and satisfactory life is prolongable if much care is taken.
pronounceable (adjective), more pronounceable, most pronounceable
Descriptive or characteristic of being stated clearly and made understandable: Tommy, the young student, was able to spell the more pronounceable words on the challenging spelling list.
propitiable (adjective), more propitiable, most propitiable
Able to conciliate or be more favorably inclined; able to gain the good will of; able to appease or make peace with: Lisa's baby girl seemed to be propitiable after she was given a pacifier to quiet her down.
The two families were propitiable after they found a common interest, and that was enjoying some good French wine together in the evening!
proscribable (adjective), more proscribable, most proscribable
1. Able to be denounced or condemned as being dangerous or harmful; prohibitive: Certain religions have a list of foods that are proscribable and should not be eaten.
2. Possible of being put outside the protection of the law; outlawed: In the story that Greg was reading, heretics were proscribable and banished from the country by the king.
2. Possible of being put outside the protection of the law; outlawed: In the story that Greg was reading, heretics were proscribable and banished from the country by the king.
provable (adjective) (not comparable)
Capable of being verified: Jack's competency in German was provable to all the students in class when he answered his teacher's questions in perfect German!
providable (adjective) (not comparable)
Capable of being made available or extended as support: Supplementary teaching aids are providable to the members of the staff when ordered in time.
provokable (adjective), more provokable, most provokable
A reference to something said or done in an angry way which usually gives rise to a negative reaction: Rebecca made a very provokable suggestion to her parents of giving all the money they had saved that month to the animal shelter instead of spending it on things they wanted at home.
pulverable, pulverizable (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to something that can be crushed or ground into a powder or dust: The pepper grinds are pulverable or pulverizable, when put into the mortar and pounded and smashed by the pistol!
punishable (adjective), more punishable, most punishable
Subject to a penalty or possible fine: During the pandemic in the year 2021, it was punishable if a special mouth and nose mask was not worn on public transportation or while shopping.
purchasable (adjective), more purchasable, most purchasable
1. Referring to that which is available for buying: Mary's parents bought a supply of purchasable goods for the family.
2. Capable of being bribed or corrupted: The politician was accused of being a purchasable agent for a foreign company.
2. Capable of being bribed or corrupted: The politician was accused of being a purchasable agent for a foreign company.
putrefiable (adjective), more putrefiable, most putrefiable
Liable to decay or to spoil: The cheese in the fridge was evidently putrefiable because it was smelly and rotten and had to be thrown away!
quadrisyllable (noun), quadrisyllables (pl)
A word comprised of four units of language larger than a phoneme: The term "dictionary" is a quadrisyllable, because it has four syllables altogether!
questionable (adjective), more questionable, most questionable
1. Open to doubt or disagreement: It was a questionable decision to have decided to write to Jack, the editor of the local paper, about who was committing vandalism in the parks.
2. Not respectable or morally proper: Mrs. Jenkins, the librarian, decided that the new book had questionable value for the science program at the school.
2. Not respectable or morally proper: Mrs. Jenkins, the librarian, decided that the new book had questionable value for the science program at the school.
