pliant

Pliant is an English adjective used to describe something that can be easily bent or shaped and, by extension, a person who is easily influenced or adaptable.

In the physical sense, pliant objects have a high degree of flexibility or suppleness, such as pliant metal, cords, plastics, or wood that bends without breaking. The term implies a material can yield to pressure without fracturing.

In the figurative sense, pliant describes a tendency to yield to others’ wishes or to adjust readily to new circumstances. A pliant temperament may be seen as cooperative or compliant, though in some contexts it can carry a negative connotation of weakness or lack of firmness.

Etymology and related terms: pliant comes from Old French pliant, from plier “to bend,” itself from Latin plicare “to fold.” Related words include pliability, pliable, and pliancy. A common near-synonym is flexible, though pliant can emphasize ease of bending or pliability in both physical and behavioral senses.

Pronunciation is typically reported as PLY-uhnt. The word is used across disciplines such as physics, materials science, psychology, and everyday language to convey a sense of ease in bending, shaping, or adapting.