Definition of amenablenext
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as in responsible
being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so even our nation's highest leaders must remain amenable to the law

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word amenable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of amenable are docile, obedient, and tractable. While all these words mean "submissive to the will of another," amenable suggests a willingness to yield or cooperate because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness.

amenable to new ideas

When is it sensible to use docile instead of amenable?

The words docile and amenable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance.

a docile child

When might obedient be a better fit than amenable?

While in some cases nearly identical to amenable, obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority.

obedient to the government

When could tractable be used to replace amenable?

While the synonyms tractable and amenable are close in meaning, tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing.

tractable animals

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of amenable Butera said Abrams was amenable to the move while noting that shortstops take pride in playing the position — something Abrams also acknowledged. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 But jobs are really bundles of tasks, some more amenable to automation than others, according to Stanford professor Charles Jones, a leading scholar of how AI will affect growth. — Matt Peterson,kate Rooney, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 Branagh’s Lopakhin is unusually amenable, said Arifa Akbar in The Guardian. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 30 July 2026 This can be challenging for the beginner, especially if dealing with unstable conditions that require the starter needing to be moved from spot to spot amenable for fermentation. — Shirl Leigh july 16, New Atlas, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for amenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amenable
Adjective
  • Once risk boundaries become clearer, previously cautious institutional investors may prove more willing to deploy capital.
    — , CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Gifty, whimsical and fun, has dyslexia and is only willing to read in front of Mercy.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Reflecting on her obedient past as a child actor, Panettiere told THR that that pressure ultimately took a toll on her.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The native, late summer-blooming obedient plant is a showy addition to your garden.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The element responsible for its pillow-like appeal is none other than that microfiber terry lining, which your skin will sink into — once again bringing to mind pricey bedding, which the hospitality behemonth is also no stranger to.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Smart, responsible planning will help reduce congestion, protect our neighborhoods and preserve Palmetto Bay’s quality of life.
    — Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The next mission, Artemis IV, is slated for no sooner than 2028 and would have astronauts landing on the moon in either Blue Moon or Starship, whichever is ready first.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
  • This is the one who shows up, locked and loaded and ready for duty, in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Digger, one bumpy ride of a satire slash symphony-of-burning-Rome-fiddlers.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Because it’s prosecuted by the state itself — rather than a traditional class-action — there’s no limit to the damages Tesla could be liable for if the state wins.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026
  • YouTube, along with Meta, was found liable in a separate trial in March for intentionally addicting a young woman and harming her mental health following a trial in Los Angeles.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The Hawks are more inclined to leave Moore at center this season, joining a group that also includes Connor Bedard, Nazar and Anton Frondell.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Sussman is inclined to see such preferences as further evidence of capitalism’s moral failings.
    — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Somewhere between all the wings and dips, someone will be glad to see something fresh.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The 6-foot, 200-pound Jenkins, known as Lightz by his teammates, wasn’t nervous about taking the field, just glad to be back on the football field.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Amenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amenable. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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