docile

adjective

doc·ile ˈdä-səl How to pronounce docile (audio)

also -ˌsī(-ə)l,

especially British ˈdō-ˌsī(-ə)l

: easily taught

a docile pupil

: easily led or managed : tractable

a docile pony

docilely

ˈdä-sə(l)-lē How to pronounce docile (audio)

adverb

docility

dä-ˈsi-lə-tē How to pronounce docile (audio)

dō-

noun

Did you know?

Ready to learn the origin of docile?

Docile students can make teaching a lot easier. Nowadays, calling students "docile" indicates they aren't trouble-makers; however, there's more than just good behavior connecting docility to teachability. The original meaning of docile is more to the point: "readily absorbing something taught." "The docile mind may soon thy precepts know," rendered Ben Jonson, for example, in a 17th-century translation of the Roman poet Horace. Docile comes from Latin docēre, which means "to teach." Other descendants of docēre include doctrine (which can mean "something that is taught"), document (an early meaning of which was "instruction"), and doctor and docent (both of which can refer to college teachers).

Example Sentences

In the course of a single month, from Annie's arrival to her triumph in bridling the household despot, Helen [Keller] had grown docile, affectionate, and tirelessly intent on learning from moment to moment.

Cynthia Ozick, New Yorker, 16 & 23 June 2003 Africanized honeybees look like the European honeybees now commonly found in our gardens, and like their relatives, they make honey. They are fairly docile when they are foraging, but they defend their nests ferociously.

Lynn Ocone, Sunset, February 1994 His students were docile and eager to learn. a docile young pony that went wherever it was led

Recent Examples on the Web Sheep—docile, ravenous and just the right height—easily smoked the field.

Amrith Ramkumar, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 In the early 1990s, once Africanized bees began taking over European beehives in southern Arizona, his hives were Africanized and his once docile bees became aggressive.

Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2022 While some shades of pink feel docile, soothing, and domestic, shocking pink is anything but.

Katy Kelleher, refinery29.com, 14 July 2022 Not many people want to stick out their necks or take a position on certain issues, hence a docile approach to decision-making.

Abiola Salami, Forbes, 28 June 2022 During the monsoon season, torrential rains turn docile rivers into raging waterways, and people rely on centuries-old bridges to access farms, schools, and markets.

Anne Pinto-rodrigues, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 June 2022 Kleopfer said eastern kingsnakes are quite docile and seldom bite when handled but will typically just vibrate their tail.

Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 If this was easier to do in France than the United States, the difference may lie more in the latter country’s decentralized legislative power than in the French citizenry’s docile nature.

Justin E. H. Smith, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 Will Speaker Nancy Pelosi now herd them across it like a docile flock of lambs?

The Editorial Board, WSJ, 31 July 2022 See More

单词	docility
释义	docile adjective doc·ile ˈdä-səl also -ˌsī(-ə)l, especially British ˈdō-ˌsī(-ə)l 1 : easily taught a docile pupil 2 : easily led or managed : tractable a docile pony docilely ˈdä-sə(l)-lē adverb docility dä-ˈsi-lə-tē dō- noun Did you know? Ready to learn the origin of docile? Docile students can make teaching a lot easier. Nowadays, calling students "docile" indicates they aren't trouble-makers; however, there's more than just good behavior connecting docility to teachability. The original meaning of docile is more to the point: "readily absorbing something taught." "The docile mind may soon thy precepts know," rendered Ben Jonson, for example, in a 17th-century translation of the Roman poet Horace. Docile comes from Latin docēre, which means "to teach." Other descendants of docēre include doctrine (which can mean "something that is taught"), document (an early meaning of which was "instruction"), and doctor and docent (both of which can refer to college teachers). Synonyms amenable biddable compliant conformable law-abiding obedient submissive tractable See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences In the course of a single month, from Annie's arrival to her triumph in bridling the household despot, Helen [Keller] had grown docile, affectionate, and tirelessly intent on learning from moment to moment. Cynthia Ozick, New Yorker, 16 & 23 June 2003 Africanized honeybees look like the European honeybees now commonly found in our gardens, and like their relatives, they make honey. They are fairly docile when they are foraging, but they defend their nests ferociously. Lynn Ocone, Sunset, February 1994 His students were docile and eager to learn. a docile young pony that went wherever it was led Recent Examples on the Web Sheep—docile, ravenous and just the right height—easily smoked the field. Amrith Ramkumar, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 In the early 1990s, once Africanized bees began taking over European beehives in southern Arizona, his hives were Africanized and his once docile bees became aggressive. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2022 While some shades of pink feel docile, soothing, and domestic, shocking pink is anything but. Katy Kelleher, refinery29.com, 14 July 2022 Not many people want to stick out their necks or take a position on certain issues, hence a docile approach to decision-making. Abiola Salami, Forbes, 28 June 2022 During the monsoon season, torrential rains turn docile rivers into raging waterways, and people rely on centuries-old bridges to access farms, schools, and markets. Anne Pinto-rodrigues, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 June 2022 Kleopfer said eastern kingsnakes are quite docile and seldom bite when handled but will typically just vibrate their tail. Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 If this was easier to do in France than the United States, the difference may lie more in the latter country’s decentralized legislative power than in the French citizenry’s docile nature. Justin E. H. Smith, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 Will Speaker Nancy Pelosi now herd them across it like a docile flock of lambs? The Editorial Board, WSJ, 31 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Latin docilis, from docēre to teach; akin to Latin decēre to be fitting — more at decent First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition docile adjective doc·ile ˈdä-səl : easily taught, led, or managed a docile horse docility noun as in obedience a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others dogs bred for docility instead of aggressiveness Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance obedience submissiveness acquiescence deference assent servility subservience receptivity obsequiousness compliancy biddability humoring complaisance subserviency slavishness receptiveness compliance amiability acceptance friendliness surrender conformity consent affability geniality sociability cooperativeness cordiality amenability capitulation amicability good-naturedness submission indulgence congeniality Antonyms & Near Antonyms disobedience defiance hostility recalcitrance intractability enmity antipathy animosity ill will See More
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docile

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

noun