Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Difficult or impossible to shape or work: Describes a material, typically a metal, that is not easily hammered, pressed, or rolled into a new shape without cracking or breaking.
   • (Figurative) Inflexible, unyielding: Describes a person, idea, or attitude that is rigid, not easily influenced, persuaded, or changed.

Usage Examples

• Literal (Material Property):

  • The alloy became brittle and unmalleable after the heat treatment.
  • Pure tungsten is known for being an extremely hard and unmalleable metal.

• Figurative (Character or Idea):

  • His unmalleable opinions made any form of negotiation impossible.
  • The committee found the director's vision to be completely unmalleable.

Advanced Usage

• "to prove unmalleable": to demonstrate an inability to be shaped or changed.
  • The new evidence, however, proved unmalleable and forced a revision of the theory.

Variants and Related Words

• Malleable (adj): The direct antonym, meaning easily shaped or influenced.
  • Gold is a highly malleable metal.
• Unmalleability (n): The state or quality of being unmalleable.
  • The unmalleability of his stance was frustrating.

Synonyms

• Inflexible: Not capable of being bent or altered.
• Intractable: Hard to control or deal with; stubborn.
• Rigid: Unable to bend or be forced out of shape; not flexible.
• Unyielding: Not giving way to pressure; hard or solid.

Antonyms

• Malleable: Easily shaped; pliable.
• Pliable: Easily bent; flexible.
• Adaptable: Able to adjust to new conditions.
• Tractable: Easy to control or influence.

Adjective

1. difficult or impossible to shape or work