Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective pliant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pliant are adaptable, ductile, malleable, plastic, and pliable. While all these words mean "susceptible of being modified in form or nature," pliant may stress flexibility and sometimes connote springiness.

an athletic shoe with a pliant sole

When is it sensible to use adaptable instead of pliant?

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

computer hardware that is adaptable

Where would ductile be a reasonable alternative to pliant?

The synonyms ductile and pliant are sometimes interchangeable, but ductile applies to what can be drawn out or extended with ease.

ductile metals such as copper

When could malleable be used to replace pliant?

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

the malleable properties of gold

When would plastic be a good substitute for pliant?

In some situations, the words plastic and pliant are roughly equivalent. However, 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

When is pliable a more appropriate choice than pliant?

The words pliable and pliant can be used in similar contexts, but pliable suggests something easily bent, folded, twisted, or manipulated.

pliable rubber tubing

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 pliant 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 Fredrik Gran is the robot motion artist and also invented wonderfully pliant robot hands that are good for cello bows and fingerboards. Jaron Lanier, WIRED, 10 Dec. 2024 Uninfected cysts are typically painless to the touch, whereas boils are more pliant and painful. Mark Gurarie, Health, 6 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for pliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pliant
Adjective
  • The sneakers use Vionic’s signature Vio-Motion technology for a stable, comfortable, and flexible fit that aids in full-body alignment.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
  • However, most new users can start with the more flexible $1,500 first bet.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • 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, New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • These new projects incorporate traditional grates for removal of solid waste like plastic bottles but also use a multilayer filtration system that mimics the way forests and wetlands naturally purify water.
    Courtney Heath, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
  • For instance, the near perfect rendition of human faces, animal hairs, object surfaces, often cause AI generated images to look plastic and unnatural.
    Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pliant. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pliant

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