English vocabulary · B2
Pliant
/ˈplaɪənt/ · adj.
It means easy to bend or change. Something pliant moves with pressure and does not break or resist.
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Example sentences
- The pliant branches bent in the wind but did not snap.
- A pliant person adjusts quickly to new rules.
Word origin and roots
from Old French
- pli — bend (from Old French)
Synonyms and nuances
- FLEXIBLE — able to bend without breaking (Physical & Abstract)
- SUPPLE — smooth and easy to bend (Soft & Physical)
- YIELDING — giving in to pressure (Gives Way to Force)
Words with the same root
pli — bend
- apply — to put something to use or press onto a surface
- reply — to answer or respond
- comply — to follow a rule or request
Lesson notes
Pliant. It means easy to bend or change. Something pliant moves with pressure and does not break or resist.
Related: flexible, supple, yielding. Use pliant when something bends easily without breaking or fighting back.
The pliant branches bent in the wind but did not snap. A pliant person adjusts quickly to new rules.
From Old French. pli- means bend. Something that bends without breaking: that is pliant.