extremely convincing or persuasive

Common use: compelling argument / case / evidence / reason

The panel presented a compelling case for postponing the vote.

seeming reasonable or possible, although not necessarily true

Common use: plausible explanation / scenario / account

Human error remains a plausible explanation for the discrepancy.

believable or trustworthy enough to be accepted

Common use: credible source / witness / claim / account

After years of sensational predictions, the commentator is no longer a credible source on regional politics.

based on reliable reasoning or principles

Common use: sound reasoning / judgement / argument / approach

Keeping a cash reserve is a sound principle for a household with an irregular income.

supported by good evidence or reasons

Common use: well-founded concern / fear / suspicion / criticism

Her suspicions that the competition had been rigged turned out to be well-founded.

logical, internally consistent and well organised

Common use: coherent argument / explanation / account / strategy

The revised paper offers a coherent explanation of the apparently conflicting results.

containing an important defect or error

Common use: flawed methodology / assumption / logic / argument

The analysis is based on a flawed sampling method.

open to doubt or criticism

Common use: questionable decision / practice / assumption / motive

Using participants' private messages without consent is ethically questionable.

extremely unlikely or difficult to believe

Common use: far-fetched claim / explanation / scenario

The suggestion that one minor update caused every subsequent failure seems far-fetched.

lacking depth or serious analysis

Common use: superficial analysis / comparison / understanding

The article gives a superficial account of a highly complex dispute.

creating a false or inaccurate impression, even if not literally false

Common use: misleading statistic / headline / claim / impression

The percentage is accurate, but the chart gives a misleading impression of rapid growth.

producing the opposite effect from the one intended

Common use: counterproductive policy / measure / strategy / approach

Scrubbing the delicate fabric vigorously was counterproductive: it spread the stain instead of removing it.

make an argument or explanation more convincing

Common use: evidence lends weight to a claim / interpretation

The follow-up survey lends weight to the argument that the change was behavioural rather than seasonal.

create doubt about validity, truth or reliability

Common use: call a claim / assumption / decision / reliability into question

Irregular timestamps call the accuracy of the published sequence into question.

show through evidence or later events that something was correct

Common use: data / evidence / events bear out a claim / forecast / prediction

The six-month results bore out the analysts' initial forecast.

support a claim or allegation with concrete evidence

Common use: substantiate a claim / allegation / assertion

The manufacturer must substantiate its claim that the packaging is fully biodegradable.

add supporting information to an account, statement or finding; formal, often involving a separate source

Common use: corroborate testimony / an account / findings; evidence corroborates a statement

Phone records corroborated the witness's account of the timeline.

weaken confidence, credibility or argumentative strength

Common use: undermine credibility / confidence / an argument / a claim

Repeated inconsistencies have undermined confidence in the investigation.

fail to reach a required standard, target or expectation

Common use: fall short of expectations / target / standard

The revised proposal still falls short of the minimum accessibility standard.

be noticeably less satisfactory than it should be

Common use: clarity / implementation / service leaves much to be desired

The meal was excellent, but the service left much to be desired.

remain convincing after careful critical examination

Common use: claim / argument / evidence stands up to scrutiny

The headline claim sounds impressive but does not stand up to close scrutiny.

after considering the relevant advantages and disadvantages overall

Common use: On balance, + overall judgement

On balance, the benefits justify a limited pilot.

used to introduce a defensible but debatable claim

Common use: arguably the most / arguably better / arguably more important

This is arguably the most significant weakness in the proposal.

used to show that even the most favourable interpretation is limited

Common use: at best incomplete / uncertain / partial

With only an hour before departure, our visit to the city will be brief at best.