Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of being flexed or bent; easily bent without breaking: Describes an object or material that can bend or be bent readily, often implying a degree of pliability or suppleness.
   • Adaptable; pliant: Describes a person, attitude, or system that is easily influenced or can adjust readily to different conditions.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The flexile branches of the willow tree swayed in the wind.
  • A good leader must have a flexile mind to adapt to changing circumstances.
  • The material is remarkably flexile, making it ideal for the intricate design.

Advanced Usage

• In a metaphorical or abstract sense: Used to describe non-physical adaptability.
  • The company's flexile policies allowed it to survive the economic downturn.
• In comparative or superlative forms: "more flexile," "most flexile."
  • Of all the metals tested, this alloy proved to be the most flexile.

Variants and Related Words

• Flexibility (n): The quality of being flexile.
  • The gymnast's flexibility was astounding.
• Flex (v): To bend.
  • He flexed his arm to show his muscle.
• Inflexible (adj): The opposite of flexile; not able to be bent or changed.
  • The rules were completely inflexible.

Synonyms

• Pliable: Easily bent or shaped.
• Supple: Bending and moving easily and gracefully; flexible.
• Elastic: Able to resume its original shape after being stretched or compressed.
• Adaptable: Able to adjust to new conditions.

Antonyms

• Rigid: Unable to bend or be forced out of shape; inflexible.
• Stiff: Not easily bent or changed in shape; rigid.
• Inflexible: Unwilling to change or adapt.

Related Phrases

• Flexile strength: (Technical) The ability to withstand bending without breaking.
  • Engineers tested the beam for its flexile strength.
• Flexile approach: An adaptable method or strategy.
  • The teacher's flexile approach catered to different learning styles.

Adjective

1. able to flex; able to bend easily
   • slim flexible birches