pliable
/'plaiəbl/ Cách viết khác : (pliant) /'plaiənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Easily bent or flexible: Capable of being bent, folded, or twisted repeatedly without breaking or cracking.
- Easily influenced or persuaded: Describing a person or their character as yielding readily to others, adaptable, or not firm in opinion.
- Adaptable to different conditions: Able to adjust readily to change or new circumstances.
Examples of Usage
Physical Flexibility: The artist used pliable clay to sculpt the intricate figure.Willow branches are naturally pliable and are often used in basket weaving.
Character or Influence: He was too pliable and often gave in to peer pressure.A good manager must be pliable enough to handle unexpected challenges from the team.
Advanced Usage
In a technical/industrial context: Often describes materials that can be shaped under force without fracturing. The new polymer is remarkably pliable at room temperature, making it ideal for medical tubing.
In a figurative/psychological context: Can describe minds, opinions, or populations that are easily shaped or directed. The propagandists targeted the pliable sentiments of the disillusioned populace.
Variants and Related Words
- Pliability (n): The quality or state of being pliable.
- Pliant (adj): Very similar in meaning to 'pliable', often used interchangeably, though sometimes with a stronger connotation of suppleness or adaptability.
Synonyms
- Flexible: Capable of bending easily.
- Malleable: Able to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking (often for metals); easily influenced.
- Ductile: Able to be drawn out into a thin wire.
- Supple: Bending and moving easily and gracefully; flexible.
- Tractable: Easy to control or influence.
Antonyms
- Rigid: Unable to bend or be forced out of shape; inflexible.
- Stiff: Not easily bent or changed in shape.
- Inflexible: Unwilling to change or adapt; rigid.
- Intractable: Hard to control or deal with; stubborn.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Pliable as clay": Extremely easy to shape or influence.
- "To bend a pliable will": To persuade or influence someone who is easily swayed.
Adjective
- capable of being bent or flexed or twisted without breaking
- a flexible wire
- a pliant young tree
- able to adjust readily to different conditions
- an adaptable person
- a flexible personality
- an elastic clause in a contract
- capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
- ductile copper
- malleable metals such as gold
- they soaked the leather to made it pliable
- pliant molten glass
- made of highly tensile steel alloy
- susceptible to being led or directed
- fictile masses of people ripe for propaganda