Could be
Perhaps
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- likely and could be
- likely and perhaps
- presumably and could be
- presumably and perhaps
- probably and could be
- probably and perhaps
- possibly and could be
- possibly and perhaps
- perchance and could be
- perchance and perhaps
- maybe and could be
- maybe and perhaps
- conceivably and could be
- conceivably and perhaps
Both terms in one sentence
- Both definitions are close and sound the same, the former is a verb phrase meaning "might be" or "could be" and the latter is an adverb meaning "perhaps" or "possibly." "Maybe I will go out tonight," and "I may be going out tonight" are examples of their correct usages.
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This could be interpreted as either cowardice on his part, or perhaps as a way of attempting to halt the curse (or maybe even both).
Source: Literature / The Ring -
Troubled Abuser: Possibly; it could be that whatever Blanchard (and perhaps others) did to him when he was a rookie contributed to him later becoming a locker room bully himself.
Cite this Source
Perhaps and Could be. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 03, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/could_be/perhaps
Could be & Perhaps. N.p., 2016. Web. 03 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/could_be/perhaps>.
Perhaps or Could be. 2016. Accessed August 03, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/could_be/perhaps.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "could be" and "perhaps" have occurred on timeline