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
  • Triumph loose fit jeans are made with stretch denim.
    may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Mark Ix, Advance Denim’s director of North American marketing, said Infinity enables a new level of stretch performance with exceptional yields and comfort.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Aug. 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
  • Older adults’ brains are also malleable, but less so.
    Paul Spann, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
  • And sometimes a rift develops between the world and a mind, a stark reminder that awareness is malleable.
    Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • An in-person visit with the singer was leaked on social media in January 2024 where the pair shared an intimate moment through a plastic divider.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Each cell had two toilets and two small tanks of water, for washing and drinking; each man was given a plastic cup and a quarter of a bar of soap.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This actually perfect pie crust is very, very pliable.
    Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
  • This causes the eardrum, a thin, pliable membrane, to stretch.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The company pointed out that the integration of laser systems on the lightweight, highly mobile ISV platform reflects a commitment to scalable, adaptable, and expeditionary force protection solutions.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Samsung's success has shown that foldables are a functional evolution of mobile hardware—one that turns the phone into an adaptable tool able to transition from compact to expansive, depending on the task at hand.
    Mark Vena, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Made with an elastic waistband and an easy slip-on design (no buttons, no problem), these travel pants are ideal for both the plane and the office.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • This style is similar to Vivaia’s with its lace-up closure and elastic backing that forms to your heel.
    Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ductile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ductile. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ductile

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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