pliable

adjective

pli·​able ˈplī-ə-bəl 

1

a

: supple enough to bend freely or repeatedly without breaking

b

: yielding readily to others : complaisant

2

: adjustable to varying conditions

pliability

ˌplī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

pliableness

ˈplī-ə-bəl-nəs 

noun

pliably

ˈplī-ə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• bendy [chiefly British]
• flexible
• limber
• lissome
• lissom
• lithe
• lithesome
• pliant
• supple
• willowy

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of pliable in a Sentence

Because the leather is pliable, it's easy to work with.

She sometimes takes advantage of her pliable parents.

Recent Examples on the Web

This was an actor with a marvelous, pliable face, not necessarily movie-star handsome but made up of bits and pieces of star quality: the cleft chin, the ready smile, the slightly doughy nose that somehow made his face look comically regal. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025

Flint The cellulose also underpins a more versatile, pliable battery structure, allowing Flint to make batteries in different forms. —New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025

Use the pliable tube for neck support, lumbar support, or even as a footrest on the plane. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025

Banks and Jelks, as directed by Davis, offer a combination of fluid expression and solid reserve, of monumentality in intimacy, that has more in common with the ways of classic Hollywood stars than with pliable modern actors of realistic bent. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from plier "to fold, bend" + -able -able — more at ply entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for pliable

• classifiable
• justifiable
• modifiable
• notifiable
• satisfiable
• specifiable
• undeniable
• unreliable
• verifiable
• emulsifiable
• identifiable
• unclassifiable

Kids Definition

pliable

adjective

pli·​able ˈplī-ə-bəl 

1

: possible to bend without breaking

2

: easily influenced

pliability

ˌplī-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun