pliant

adjective

pli·​ant ˈplī-ənt 

1

: pliable sense 1a

2

: easily influenced : yielding

3

: suitable for varied uses

pliantly adverb

pliantness noun

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for pliant

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 pliant in a Sentence

a pliant Congress that will do whatever the President wants

a pliant branch bent low with the weight of ripe fruit

Recent Examples on the Web

During subsequent decades, the Soviets and its pliant regime were defeated, the country was racked by civil war, and various Islamist groups became ascendant, including the Mujahedin, Taliban, al-Qaeda, and Isis-Khorasan. —Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025

Notably, Assad was pliant to the ayatollahs’ Iran, the theocratic state bent on reshaping the region in the name of Shi’ite jihad. —Bassem Eid, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2025

By aligning with these groups, Iran could build a network of loyalist forces and proxies to sustain its influence in Syria even in the absence of a pliant ruling regime. —Hamidreza Azizi, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2024

Starchy potato and lots of powdered sugar come together to form a pliant dough that's rolled up with sugary peanut butter. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pliaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French pliant, plyaunt "able to be bent or folded, obedient, compliant," from present participle of plier "to fold, bend" — more at ply entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pliant

adjective

pli·​ant ˈplī-ənt 

1

: pliable sense 1, flexible

pliant willow twigs

2

: pliable sense 2, yielding

3

: adjusting to changing conditions : adaptable

pliantly adverb