pliable

adjective

pli·​able ˈplī-ə-bəl 

1

a

: supple enough to bend freely or repeatedly without breaking

b

: yielding readily to others : complaisant

takes advantage of her pliable parents

2

: adjustable to varying conditions

pliability

ˌplī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

pliableness

ˈplī-ə-bəl-nəs 

noun

pliably

ˈplī-ə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of pliable

• flexible
• pliant
• plastic

Choose the Right Synonym for pliable

plastic, pliable, pliant, ductile, malleable, adaptable mean susceptible of being modified in form or nature.

plastic applies to substances soft enough to be molded yet capable of hardening into the desired fixed form.

plastic materials allow the sculptor greater freedom

pliable suggests something easily bent, folded, twisted, or manipulated.

pliable rubber tubing

pliant may stress flexibility and sometimes connote springiness.

an athletic shoe with a pliant sole

ductile applies to what can be drawn out or extended with ease.

ductile metals such as copper

malleable applies to what may be pressed or beaten into shape.

the malleable properties of gold

adaptable implies the capability of being easily modified to suit other conditions, needs, or uses.

computer hardware that is adaptable

Examples of pliable in a Sentence

Because the leather is pliable, it's easy to work with.

She sometimes takes advantage of her pliable parents.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fazio wasn’t offering labor any leverage to make Lamont more generous or pliable. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026

These materials are intended to squish—thermoplastic rubber and silicone are designed to be soft and pliable but bounce back to their original shape. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026

That’s because single-network elastomers, the pliable polymers that can stretch and rebound due to weak intermolecular bonds, have tended to act in an either/or fashion. — New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2026

Sharing the same hilltop ridge with Lago Lomita but facing more east than west, Muns Vineyard is just undergoing veraison, the process where red grapes turn from hard green to pliable purple. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from plier "to fold, bend" + -able -able — more at ply entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for pliable

• classifiable
• justifiable
• modifiable
• notifiable
• satisfiable
• specifiable
• undeniable
• unreliable
• verifiable
• emulsifiable
• identifiable
• unclassifiable

Kids Definition

pliable

adjective

pli·​able ˈplī-ə-bəl 

1

: possible to bend without breaking

2

: easily influenced

pliability

ˌplī-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun