amenable

American  

[uh-mee-nuh-buhl, uh-men-uh-] / əˈmi nə bəl, əˈmɛn ə- /

adjective

1. ready or willing to answer, act, agree, or yield; open to influence, persuasion, or advice; agreeable; submissive; tractable.

   an amenable servant.

   Synonyms:

   easy, docile, manageable

   Antonyms:

   recalcitrant, stubborn

2. liable to be called to account; answerable; legally responsible.

   You are amenable for this debt.

3. capable of or agreeable to being tested, tried, analyzed, etc.

   Synonyms:

   responsible, accountable

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amenable British  

/ əˈmiːnəbəl /

adjective

1. open or susceptible to suggestion; likely to listen, cooperate, etc

2. accountable for behaviour to some authority; answerable

3. capable of being or liable to be tested, judged, etc

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Other Word Forms

• amenability noun
• amenableness noun
• amenably adverb
• nonamenability noun
• nonamenable adjective
• nonamenableness noun
• nonamenably adverb
• unamenable adjective
• unamenably adverb

Etymology

Origin of amenable

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Anglo-French, equivalent to Middle French amen(er) “to lead to” ( a- a- ⁵ + mener, from Late Latin mināre “to push, impel,” from Latin minārī “to threaten”) + -able -able

Example Sentences

De Zerbi is also believed to be amenable to the idea.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Learning that he “was not amenable to removal,” the agents dropped him off at a coffee shop without informing his attorneys or family.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

U.S. officials were familiar with Rodriguez’s career and understood that she would potentially be amenable to a working relationship, an administration official said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

There are other players in the regime who may not prove as amenable.

From Salon • Jan. 6, 2026

“I would be amenable to that. Thank you,” Stephanie said, linking her arm with mine.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

Related Words

• agreeable
• responsive
• susceptible