ductile

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ductile contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ductile are adaptable, malleable, plastic, pliable, and pliant. While all these words mean "susceptible of being modified in form or nature," ductile applies to what can be drawn out or extended with ease.

ductile metals such as copper

When can adaptable be used instead of ductile?

The words adaptable and ductile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, adaptable implies the capability of being easily modified to suit other conditions, needs, or uses.

computer hardware that is adaptable

When would malleable be a good substitute for ductile?

While the synonyms malleable and ductile are close in meaning, malleable applies to what may be pressed or beaten into shape.

the malleable properties of gold

Where would plastic be a reasonable alternative to ductile?

The meanings of plastic and ductile largely overlap; however, 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

When is it sensible to use pliable instead of ductile?

While in some cases nearly identical to ductile, pliable suggests something easily bent, folded, twisted, or manipulated.

pliable rubber tubing

When might pliant be a better fit than ductile?

Although the words pliant and ductile have much in common, pliant may stress flexibility and sometimes connote springiness.

an athletic shoe with a pliant sole

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 ductile The order, unanimously approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission, directs the utility to retire the remaining 1,000 miles of aging leak-prone cast iron and ductile pipes running under Chicago by 2035. Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025 This sliding is what leads to the material being ductile (able to be drawn into wires) and malleable (able to be hammered into shapes), which are characteristics of softness. John Werner, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025 The all-aluminum M1s are apparently hard enough to handle ice but ductile enough to not easily chip or shatter when hitting rocks. Cameron Martindell, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2024 The majority of Surprise’s water line system is made of PVC and ductile iron, Water Resource Management Director Mike Boule explained. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ductile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ductile
Adjective
  • The collection includes the straight-leg Teddy in rigid and stretch fabrics; the ’90s inspired Gus with a relaxed and slouchy fit; the Jackson, a barrel-leg jean with a V-waist; the Kyle, a stretch flare; and the Leo, a straight-meets-barrel silhouette with a high rise.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This lack of performance honesty hinders Black women from course-correcting or demonstrating readiness for stretch roles.
    Gena Cox, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This led Liu to wonder if these pliant electronics might keep up with the mutable nature of embryonic brains.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 11 June 2025
  • Japan hasn’t been as pliant as Trump seemed to expect.
    William Pesek, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • In The Girlfriend, the truth is malleable, open to change based on our biases, judgments, whimsies, and desires.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • First-year coach David Adelman seems eager to be malleable with scheme.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Fish 10 to 20 feet deep with plastic worms or jig and pigs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Charges previously alleged that the woman had placed the newborn in a plastic bag before throwing it out of the bathroom window onto concrete, the outlet reported.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The resulting pollen is as pliable as Play-Doh, says Shahrudin Ibrahim, a research fellow in Cho’s lab who helped to develop the technique.
    Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Some might go so far as to suggest that Ufotable’s work approaches the pinnacle of what animation can achieve this decade, tapping into that infinite potential of cinema’s most pliable medium (your mileage will vary).
    David Opie, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Road trips, hikes, and beach destinations with pet-friendly hotels can work well for adaptable animals.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • On the other hand, GPUs remain extremely adaptable, capable of managing both training and inference across diverse models.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The water-resistant outer material guards your essentials against splashes, while elastic straps and multiple pockets help keep your bottles upright.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This under-$50 pajama set has a wide leg silhouette, elastic waistband, and a button-up design to maximize comfort and layerability.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ductile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ductile. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ductile

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