PLASTIC Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

plastic

adjective

Definition of plastic

as in waxy

capable of being easily molded or modeled Silly Putty is famous for being very plastic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mock

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality there's usually a plastic cordiality at these corporate events

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Materials set Plasticana apart from standard plastic garden shoes. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026 Less than a decade later, industry executives were beginning to worry about the potential risks posed by tiny plastic particles that could permeate organs in the body. — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026 The German athletic brand noted that the design was used in Asia on scaffolding and was referenced in plastic bags first made in Hong Kong by a Chinese tailor in the 1970s, later traveling to Africa. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026 Advertisement Hamawy, who won New Jersey’s 12th District, is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Army veteran, and medical-practice owner. — Angela Haupt, Time, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plastic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plastic

Adjective

Called North America’s most elegant bird because of striking brown and yellow plumage and bright, waxy red wing tips.

— Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Somehow, Garfield’s Altman’s face gets younger and waxier as this happens.

— Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of waxy

Adjective

In convict poker, a raging bull is loosed on a mock card game, and the last man still seated wins a prize.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
From doctors prescribing travel to Sweden as a medical treatment to Oslo's viral mock-documentary narrated by a jaded local called Halfdan.

— Lola Akinmade, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of mock

Adjective

The researchers linked molecules from a viscous oil and a gas to produce a new variation of this polymer, resulting in a transparent, moldable goo with a consistency similar to Blu Tack.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
But the fun doesn’t stop with figurines—the calendar also includes moldable sand and molds to make snowballs and snowflakes, plus pop-out play pieces like a festive tree and a sled to soar across the frozen landscape.

— Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of moldable

Adjective

That decision left the financially strained athletic department staring at a buyout of roughly $50 million.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
The relationship between LaLiga and Real Madrid is beyond strained—see Tebas’ Nazi comments as an example—but on this two agreed that everyone involved had to bend the knee.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of strained

Adjective

Although the initial deployment will focus on 5G, Qualcomm said the platforms offer an adaptable foundation for future connectivity technologies and more intelligent network operations.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Everyone reacts differently to the time change, but being adaptable makes the darkness a little easier on your physical and mental health, according to Richardson.

— Amanda Callahan, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of adaptable

Adjective

Taking a page out of Better Call Saul‘s playbook, NBC is launching a fake billboard-style ad for Jim Rockford, complete with a hotline number, just like the AMC drama did with attorney Saul Goodman.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
Stone was dressed as an aesthetically conscious conservative housewife with a crisp button-down shirt, A-line skirt, peroxide blowout and fake facelift sutures.

— Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and let sit on the counter until malleable, about 15 minutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
Her human slogan machine rap seemed more like a complement to JT’s malleable traditionalism rather than the other way around.

— Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of malleable

Adjective

Led by scientists at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, the team investigated a kind of bone cell that detects mechanical forces, known as osteocytes.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
With composites, thermal cycling and mechanical strain can cause cracking, exacerbating losses of molecular hydrogen.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of mechanical

Browse Nearby Words

plasters

plastic

plasticity

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“Plastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plastic. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of plastic

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