inductile
- Adjective:
- Not capable of being drawn into wire: "inductile" describes a material, especially metal, that cannot be stretched or shaped into thin strands through pulling.
- Not flexible or pliable: It can refer to a substance that is stiff, hard to bend, or resistant to shaping.
- Figuratively, unyielding or stubborn: In a metaphorical sense, "inductile" describes a person or thing that is difficult to influence, teach, or mold.
Physical sense (metal):
- Cast iron is often inductile, making it unsuitable for wire production. (It cannot be drawn into wire.)
Physical sense (material):
- The dried clay became inductile and cracked when I tried to shape it. (It was too stiff to bend.)
Figurative sense:
- His inductile attitude prevented him from learning new skills. (His stubbornness made him resistant to teaching.)
"inductile nature": a characteristic of being unyielding or rigid.
- The inductile nature of the old laws made reform difficult. (The laws were inflexible and hard to change.)
"inductile metal": a specific type of metal that lacks ductility.
- Bismuth is an inductile metal that shatters rather than stretches. (It breaks when pulled.)
Ductile (adj): the opposite of inductile; capable of being drawn into wire or shaped.
- Copper is a ductile metal used for electrical wiring. (It can be stretched into thin wires.)
Ductility (n): the property of being ductile.
- Gold's high ductility allows it to be hammered into thin sheets. (It is easily shaped.)
Inductility (n): the quality of being inductile.
- The inductility of the alloy limited its industrial use. (Its inability to be shaped was a drawback.)
Inflexible: not capable of being bent or changed.
- The material was too inflexible to be used in springs. (Stiff, unyielding.)
Stubborn: resistant to change or persuasion (figurative).
- His stubborn personality made him inductile in negotiations. (Unwilling to compromise.)
Brittle: hard but easily broken (related, but not identical; brittle materials break, while inductile materials resist shaping).
- Glass is brittle, whereas this metal is inductile. (Glass shatters; the metal does not stretch.)
"Set in one's ways": having fixed habits or opinions that are hard to change (similar to the figurative sense of inductile).
- The old professor was set in his ways, inductile to new teaching methods. (He was stubborn and resistant.)
"Hard as nails": very tough or unyielding, either physically or in character.
- The material was as inductile as nails, impossible to bend. (Extremely stiff.)