pliable
Yielding to pressure
Pliable describes something that bends easily without breaking: pliable leather, pliable young branches.
The word extends to people who are easily influenced or shaped by others: a pliable witness, pliable enough to go along with whatever the group decided.
Unlike flexible, pliable often carries a hint of weakness or excessive yielding.
Able to bend freely
- bendableAble to curve
- suppleFlexing without damage
- limberBending without resistance
- elasticAble to stretch, rebounds
ductile · malleable · springy · resilient · stretchable · rubbery · whippy · lithe
Readily yielding to control
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
- tractableEasily managed or controlled
- biddableReadily obeying commands
- acquiescentAccepting without resistance
meek · deferential · subservient · dutiful · amenable · conformable · passive · unresisting
Yielding to touch
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
- suppleFlexing without damage
- silkySmooth and lustrous
- velvetySoft and smooth-textured
cushiony · squishy · tender · leathery · rubbery · doughy · kneadable · squeezable
Capable in varied contexts
- adjustableAble to be changed
- modifiableAble to be changed
- convertibleCar with folding roof
- configurableAble to be adjusted
tailorable · alterable · transformable · open-minded · receptive · resourceful · dynamic · responsive
flexible
Able to bend freely
elastic · ductile · malleable · springy · resilient · stretchable · rubbery · whippy · lithe · lissome
submissive
Readily yielding to control
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
- tractableEasily managed or controlled
- biddableReadily obeying commands
acquiescent · meek · deferential · subservient · dutiful · amenable · conformable · passive · unresisting · docile
soft
Yielding to touch
velvety · cushiony · squishy · tender · leathery · rubbery · doughy · kneadable · squeezable · waxlike
versatile
Capable in varied contexts
- adjustableAble to be changed
- modifiableAble to be changed
- convertibleCar with folding roof
configurable · tailorable · alterable · transformable · open-minded · receptive · resourceful · dynamic · responsive · changeable
- flexibilitystretch, elastic, bendy, stretchy, bendable
- submissivesubmissive, subservient, obedient, servile, docile
- texturessmoothness, smooth, soft, rough, roughness
- flexible thingselastic, bendy, stretchy, springy, malleable
- stretchy thingselastic, stretchy, rubbery, springy, flexible
- metal propertiesmalleable, ductile, conductive, magnetic, brittle
pliablerigid
Unable to bend
stiff · inflexible · unbendable · unyielding · brittle
pliableobstinate
Firmly refusing to yield
stubborn · inflexible · unyielding · obdurate · headstrong