plastic

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective plastic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plastic are adaptable, ductile, malleable, pliable, and pliant. While all these words 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

In what contexts can adaptable take the place of plastic?

While in some cases nearly identical to plastic, adaptable implies the capability of being easily modified to suit other conditions, needs, or uses.

computer hardware that is adaptable

When can ductile be used instead of plastic?

The words ductile and plastic can be used in similar contexts, but ductile applies to what can be drawn out or extended with ease.

ductile metals such as copper

When is it sensible to use malleable instead of plastic?

Although the words malleable and plastic have much in common, malleable applies to what may be pressed or beaten into shape.

the malleable properties of gold

When would pliable be a good substitute for plastic?

The meanings of pliable and plastic largely overlap; however, pliable suggests something easily bent, folded, twisted, or manipulated.

pliable rubber tubing

When might pliant be a better fit than plastic?

The words pliant and plastic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 plastic Dispose of the stems in a plastic bag in the trash. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025 From there, the mattress (which was packaged in plastic wrapping) quickly expanded to fit my queen-size bed frame. Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 5 Oct. 2025 The plastic power and reset buttons are unlit; the MasterFrame 600’s sole indicator LED shines its power-on signal through a hole in the aluminum panel. Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025 Fisk Johnson visited a waste site in India to record a video urging action on a global treaty on plastic waste. Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plastic
Adjective
  • Amara says that buildup can often appear as a waxy film or cause white residue at the roots.
    Larry Stansbury, Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The colors would wash across the Los Angeles basin and light the tree from underneath, making its orange-red bark glow and waxy green needles sparkle.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Flight 11 will target those same two splashdown zones, and Ship will aim to deploy another eight mock Starlinks, SpaceX wrote in Monday's update.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Recently, Taylor invited her daughter’s class to Euronews Albania for a behind-the-scenes look at how television is made, where the children took part in mock interviews and explored the studio with wide-eyed excitement.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Qatar is deepening its presence in Egypt after more than a decade of strained ties.
    Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Reports about father and son’s strained relationship have been everywhere of late.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While mountain lions are highly adaptable to various ecosystems, their numbers declined historically due to being hunted by fearful humans.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • These adaptable machines could be deployed in environments currently too dangerous or inaccessible for humans or conventional robots.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Methanol is an industrial chemical that can cause nerve and liver damage and is sometimes found in fake or poorly distilled alcohol.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Advertisement Differences between biological age and chronological age speaks to the possibility that aging is malleable.
    Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Technology and the almighty algorithms keep many musicians under their thumb, and only the malleable prosper.
    Waylon Barnes, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • However, his unnatural exit from the sport made headlines in his final season at the Bahrain Grand Prix through an incident that reminded everyone about the dangers of motorsport.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Imitating the speech or body language of others during a conversation is another form of masking, along with forcing eye contact or facial expressions, which may feel unnatural.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plastic. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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