pliant
adjective
Synonyms
- bendy [chiefly British]
- flexible
- limber
- lissome
- lissom
- lithe
- lithesome
- pliable
- supple
- willowy
Example Sentences
Karina Tsui, Washington Post, 1 July 2022 Chassis settings are pliant to the point of sometimes feeling soft. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 24 June 2022 Pérez oversees a vast network of pliant news media, dependent not only on his grace and favor for information and access but cowed, too, by the sheer scale and heft of his business interests. New York Times, 27 May 2022 Abnesti’s best patient is the sullen, pliant Jeff (Miles Teller), a convict serving time for manslaughter who’s haunted by memories of the misbehavior that landed him in prison. David Sims, The Atlantic, 20 June 2022 The roasted carrots are cooked to a pliant, mellow sweetness that ricochets off the tart pickles and the crunch of the raw vegetables. Jenn Harriscolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2022 Amplified by a pliant Russian media, the pretext appears to enjoy widespread public buy-in. Patrick Galey, NBC News, 8 May 2022 In gentler modes, the air springs still feel pliant by segment standards, with the Trofeo's body moving noticeably under bigger loadings. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 5 Apr. 2022 Critics claim that coverage of the election campaign was dominated by a pliant media. John Fund, National Review, 5 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English pliaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French pliant, plyaunt "able to be bent or folded, obedient, compliant," from present participle of plier "to fold, bend" — more at ply entry 3
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
pliant
adjective
pliant
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- flexible
- pliable
- supple
- plastic
- limber
- willowy
- floppy
- bendy
- lissom
- lissome
- lithe
- lithesome
- adaptable
- malleable
- yielding
- ductile
- elastic
- modifiable
- flaccid
- limp
- fluid
- variable
- kneadable
- semiflexible
- droopy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rigid
- stiff
- stiffened
- inflexible
- unyielding
- inelastic
- fragile
- brittle
- nonmalleable
- breakable
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of pliant are adaptable, ductile, malleable, plastic, and pliable. While all these words mean "susceptible of being modified in form or nature," pliant may stress flexibility and sometimes connote springiness.
While in some cases nearly identical to pliant, adaptable implies the capability of being easily modified to suit other conditions, needs, or uses.
The synonyms ductile and pliant are sometimes interchangeable, but ductile applies to what can be drawn out or extended with ease.
Although the words malleable and pliant have much in common, malleable applies to what may be pressed or beaten into shape.
In some situations, the words plastic and pliant are roughly equivalent. However, plastic applies to substances soft enough to be molded yet capable of hardening into the desired fixed form.
The words pliable and pliant can be used in similar contexts, but pliable suggests something easily bent, folded, twisted, or manipulated.