pliant
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pli·ant
(plī′ənt)adj.
1. Easily bent or flexed; pliable. See Synonyms at malleable.
2. Easily altered or modified to fit conditions; adaptable: a pliant poetic form.
3. Yielding readily to influence or domination; compliant: a pliant colonial regime.
[Middle English, from Old French, present participle of plier, to fold, bend, from Latin plicāre; see plek- in Indo-European roots.]
pli′an·cy, pli′ant·ness n.
pli′ant·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
pliant
(ˈplaɪənt)adj
1. easily bent; supple: a pliant young tree.
2. easily modified; adaptable; flexible: a pliant system.
3. yielding readily to influence; compliant
[C14: from Old French, from plier to fold, bend; see ply2]
ˈpliancy, ˈpliantness n
ˈpliantly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pli•ant
(ˈplaɪ ənt)adj.
1. pliable.
2. having a variety of uses; adaptable.
pli′an•cy, pli′ant•ness, n.
pli′ant•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Adj. | 1. | pliant - capable of being influenced or formed; "the plastic minds of children"; "a pliant nature" impressible, impressionable, waxy - easily impressed or influenced; "an impressionable youngster"; "an impressionable age"; "a waxy mind" |
2. | ![]() formed - having or given a form or shape | |
3. | pliant - able to adjust readily to different conditions; "an adaptable person"; "a flexible personality"; "an elastic clause in a contract" adaptable - capable of adapting (of becoming or being made suitable) to a particular situation or use; "to succeed one must be adaptable"; "the frame was adaptable to cloth bolts of different widths" | |
4. | ![]() |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
pliant
adjective
1. impressionable, susceptible, manageable, adaptable, compliant, yielding, pliable, easily led, tractable, biddable, persuadable, influenceable She's proud and stubborn under that pliant exterior.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
pliant
adjective1. Capable of being shaped, bent, or drawn out, as by hammering or pressure:
2. Capable of adapting or being adapted:
3. Easily altered or influenced:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.