supple

[ suhp-uhl ]

adjective

, sup·pler, sup·plest.

1. bending readily without breaking or becoming deformed; pliant; flexible:

   a supple bough.

2. characterized by ease in bending; limber; lithe:

   supple movements.

3. characterized by ease, responsiveness, and adaptability in mental action.
4. compliant or yielding.
5. obsequious; servile.

verb (used with or without object)

, sup·pled, sup·pling.

1. to make or become supple.

supple

/ ˈsʌpəl /

adjective

1. bending easily without damage
2. capable of or showing easy or graceful movement; lithe
3. mentally flexible; responding readily
4. disposed to agree, sometimes to the point of servility

verb

1. rare.
   to make or become supple

Derived Forms

• ˈsuppleness, noun

Other Words From

• supple·ness noun
• un·supple adjective
• un·supple·ness noun
• un·supp·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of supple¹

1250–1300; (adj.) Middle English souple flexible, compliant < Old French: soft, yielding, lithe < Latin supplic- (stem of supplex ) submissive, suppliant, equivalent to sup- sup- + -plic-, variously explained as akin to plicāre to fold ¹, bend (thus meaning “bent over”; complex ), or to plācāre to placate ¹ (thus meaning “in the attitude of a suppliant”); (v.) Middle English supplen to soften, derivative of the noun (compare Old French asoplir )

Word History and Origins

Origin of supple¹

C13: from Old French souple, from Latin supplex bowed

Example Sentences

Ben Supple said it was "essential" for the UK and Scottish governments to crack down on the use and sale of fireworks.

From BBC

Created in 1934, the Ludo bracelet features updates like delicate mesh in hexagon and briquette motifs, woven by the maison’s craftsmen to heighten the effect of a supple ribbon.

From Los Angeles Times

She begs her supple, pouty-lipped counterpart to come back to life — Sue is slated to host a New Year’s Eve live event.

From Salon

As always, the Eagles’ playing was masterful throughout the night: crisp and strummy in “New Kid in Town,” tense yet cooled-out in “I Can’t Tell You Why,” extravagantly supple in “Hotel California,” which they opened with in case anybody came in doubting the band’s ample supply of hits.

From Los Angeles Times

After Cristiano Ronaldo had stretched a supple leg to turn in his 901st career goal and down Scotland, he tore away to the corner flag to perform his customary celebration with all the gusto of a man scoring his first.

From BBC

Related Words

• agile
• elastic
• flexible
• graceful
• limber
• lithe
• malleable
• pliable
• pliant
• resilient
• springy
• svelte
• wiry