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.

Example Sentences

If Trump appoints a more pliant attorney general this time, he has the power to order the Justice Department to investigate his critics, a GOP lawyer who is reportedly advising the president-elect wrote last week.

From Los Angeles Times

Thanks to a deferential Supreme Court, a subservient Republican Party that won a Senate majority and a determination to assemble a more pliant administration, there will be fewer checks on his power.

From Los Angeles Times

What very well might is a return to soaring inflation, if Trump manages, with a pliant Republican Congress, to impose the massive tariffs that set his heart afire.

From Los Angeles Times

It doesn’t just want pliant existing governments so that companies can run their own affairs.

From BBC

The rapid growth of "flexible workers" - employees hired on contract - has become a key strategy of multinational corporations to stop unionising by ensuring a pliant workforce, he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• malleable
• pliable
• supple