tractable

trac·ta·ble

adjective \ˈtrak-tə-bəl\

Definition of TRACTABLE

1

: capable of being easily led, taught, or controlled : docile <a tractable horse>

2

: easily handled, managed, or wrought : malleable

— trac·ta·bil·i·ty \ˌtrak-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— trac·ta·ble·ness \ˈtrak-tə-bəl-nəs\ noun

— trac·ta·bly \-blē\ adverb

Examples of TRACTABLE

1. This new approach should make the problem more tractable.
2. He's a very tractable child.

Origin of TRACTABLE

Latin tractabilis, from tractare to handle, treat

First Known Use: 1502

Related to TRACTABLE

Synonyms

amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, law-abiding, submissive, obedient

Antonyms

balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, noncompliant, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, unamenable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)

Related Words

acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, duteous, dutiful, obliging, placable; soft, surrendering, yielding; fawning, kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, subservient; decorous, disciplined, mannerly, orderly; constrained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained; controllable, disciplinable, governable, handleable, manageable, tame, teachable, obedient, trainable; gentle, meek, mild

Near Antonyms

insurgent, mutinous; dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, peevish, pigheaded, self-willed, stubborn, unyielding; uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild; balky, defiant, perverse, resistant; bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty; ill-bred, undisciplined; dissident, nonconformist; disrespectful, ill-mannered, impolite, impudent, insolent, rude

See Synonym Discussion at obedient

Rhymes with TRACTABLE

actable