pliant

[ plahy-uhnt ]

adjective

1. bending readily; flexible; supple; adaptable:

   She manipulated the pliant clay.

   Synonyms: flexile, pliable

2. easily influenced; yielding to others; compliant:

   He has a pliant nature.

   Synonyms: docile, tractable, manageable, flexile, pliable

pliant

/ ˈplaɪənt /

adjective

1. easily bent; supple

   a pliant young tree

2. easily modified; adaptable; flexible

   a pliant system

3. yielding readily to influence; compliant

Derived Forms

• ˈpliantly, adverb
• ˈpliancy, noun

Other Words From

• plian·cy pliant·ness noun
• pliant·ly adverb
• non·plian·cy noun
• non·pliant adjective
• non·pliant·ly adverb
• non·pliant·ness noun
• un·plian·cy noun
• un·pliant adjective
• un·pliant·ly adverb
• un·pliant·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pliant¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, present participle of the verb plier ply ²; -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of pliant¹

C14: from Old French, from plier to fold, bend; see ply ²

Synonym Study

See flexible.

Related Words

• malleable
• pliable
• supple