flexible

[ flek-suh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being bent, usually without breaking; easily bent:

   a flexible ruler.

   Synonyms: supple, elastic, pliable

   Antonyms: stiff

2. susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable:

   a flexible schedule.

   Synonyms: compliant, tractable

   Antonyms: rigid

3. willing or disposed to yield; pliable:

   a flexible personality.

noun

1. a flexible substance or material, as rubber or leather.

flexible

/ ˈflɛksɪbəl /

adjective

1. Alsoflexileˈflɛksaɪl able to be bent easily without breaking; pliable
2. adaptable or variable

   flexible working hours

3. able to be persuaded easily; tractable

Derived Forms

• ˈflexibly, adverb
• ˌflexiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• flex·i·bil·i·ty [flek-s, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], flex·i·ble·ness noun
• flex·i·bly adverb
• hy·per·flex·i·ble adjective
• hy·per·flex·i·ble·ness noun
• hy·per·flex·i·bly adverb
• non·flex·i·ble adjective
• non·flex·i·ble·ness noun
• non·flex·i·bly adverb
• un·flex·i·ble adjective
• un·flex·i·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flexible¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin flexibilis “pliant, easily bent”; flex ¹, -ible

Synonym Study

Flexible, limber, pliant refer to that which bends easily. Flexible refers to that which is capable of being bent and adds sometimes the idea of compressibility or expansibility: a flexible piece of rubber hose. Limber is especially applied to the body to refer to ease of movement; it resembles flexible except that there is an idea of even greater ease in bending: a limber dancer. Pliant stresses an inherent quality or tendency to bend that does not require force or pressure from the outside; it may mean merely adaptable or may have a derogatory sense: a pliant character.

Example Sentences

"Now accessible on hippocampushub.eu, this model serves as a flexible tool for scientists, providing extensive analyses and an interface to support further hippocampal research."

From Science Daily

Traditional models are often insufficient to prepare deltas for our unpredictable future, necessitating more flexible approaches.

From Science Daily

That may not seem amazing, but one of the scientists involved points out that for animals, a hose – a flexible tube with running water coming out of the end – is “very complex”.

From NewsForKids.net

The research team applied this principle to the new pressure release valve: a flexible membrane mimics the opening movement of the plant trap and reacts to critical pressure increases in the speaking valve.

From Science Daily

Her hand was initially in a cast and her neck was in a fixed brace, before she was able to wear a flexible removable one.

From BBC

Related Words

• malleable
• soft