Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

pliable

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of pliable

1 able to bend easily without breaking
  • the wooden strips become more pliable if they are first soaked in water
Synonyms of pliable

bendy [chiefly British], flexible, limber, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, pliant, supple, willowy
Words Related to pliable

adaptable, ductile, elastic, fluid, kneadable, malleable, modifiable, plastic, variable, yielding

droopy, flaccid, floppy, limp

semiflexible
Near Antonyms of pliable

inelastic, nonmalleable, unyielding

breakable, brittle, fragile
Antonyms of pliable

inflexible, rigid, stiff, stiffened
2 capable of being readily changed
  • with such iffy weather, we had to keep our vacation schedule fairly pliable
Synonyms of pliable

adaptable, adjustable, alterable, changeable, elastic, flexible, fluid, malleable, modifiable, variable
Words Related to pliable

changing, fluctuating, inconstant, labile, unstable, unsteady, varying, versatile
Near Antonyms of pliable

constant, stable, steady, unchanging, uniform, unvarying
Antonyms of pliable

established, fixed, immutable, inelastic, inflexible, invariable, nonmalleable, ramrod, set, unadaptable, unalterable, unbudgeable, unchangeable

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about pliable

  1. See words that rhyme with pliable Dictionary: Definition of pliable Spanish Central: Translation of pliable Nglish: Translation of pliable for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pliable? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

gnomic

Listen to the pronounciation of gnomic

characterized by aphorism

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. condemn House Dems vote against Trump tweets

  2. gerrymander, gerrymandering Supreme Court oks extreme redistricting

  3. concentration camp Debate over detentions drives searches

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games