pliant

IPA/ˈplaɪənt/
KK[plˈaɪənt]IPA/ˈplaɪənt/

pliant — 形容詞

  • pliantpositive
  • more pliantcomparative
  • most pliantsuperlative

1. describes someone whose opinions or decisions change easily because of what othe

1.形容詞B2
釋義

易受影響

容易受人影響或控制

describes someone whose opinions or decisions change easily because of what other people say or want, often because they lack strong personal convictions.

例句

Lakan was too pliant and agreed to every suggestion his teammates made.

Lakan 個性太過容易受人影響，同意了隊友提出的每一個建議。

adverb + pliant: too pliant

The manager worried that her pliant assistant would say yes to any unreasonable request.

主管擔心她那容易受人影響的助理會答應任何不合理的要求。

同義詞
  • compliant

    focuses on obeying rules or orders; more neutral and behaviour-focused than pliant

  • docile

    suggests a quiet, submissive nature; often used for animals or children

  • malleable

    metaphor from metalworking, suggests being shaped by surroundings or people

  • submissive

    stronger negative tone, implies willingly accepting others' authority over oneself

反義詞
  • stubborn

    refuses to change opinions or actions despite pressure

  • strong-willed

    holds firmly to personal beliefs and decisions

用法筆記

Typically carries a disapproving tone — pliant in this sense describes a person as weak-willed rather than helpfully cooperative. The subject is usually a person or a group of people.

常見錯誤

❌The students were pliant with the school rules.
✅The students were compliant with the school rules.
💡Compliant means following rules; pliant means easily influenced by other people, not rules.

2. describes a person, organization, or system that adapts smoothly to new circumst

2.形容詞C1
釋義

善變通

願意接受改變或新想法

describes a person, organization, or system that adapts smoothly to new circumstances, ideas, or methods without resistance.

例句

The company values pliant employees who can adjust quickly to new market conditions.

這家公司看重能隨市場變化而善於變通的員工。

pattern: pliant + noun (employees)

Greta's pliant attitude toward new teaching methods made her students' experience richer.

Greta 對新教學法抱持變通的態度，讓學生的學習體驗更豐富。

collocation: pliant attitude toward [something]

同義詞
  • flexible

    more common and broader; can refer to time, rules, materials, or attitudes

  • adaptable

    focuses on the ability to change behaviour to fit new situations

  • open-minded

    emphasises willingness to consider new ideas rather than actual change

反義詞
  • rigid

    unwilling or unable to change established methods or ideas

  • inflexible

    refuses to adapt to new conditions or suggestions

用法筆記

Often used in business or organizational contexts to describe policies, people, or systems that respond well to change. In this sense pliant suggests a positive capacity for adaptation, unlike sense 1 which carries a negative evaluation.

常見錯誤

❌She was pliant to her boss's unreasonable demands.
✅She was compliant with her boss's unreasonable demands.
💡When the context suggests passive obedience to authority, compliant is more precise; pliant (sense 2) describes positive adaptability, not yielding under pressure.

3. describes a material that can be bent, folded, or twisted into different shapes

3.形容詞B2
釋義

易彎曲

容易彎曲而不斷裂

describes a material that can be bent, folded, or twisted into different shapes without cracking, snapping, or suffering permanent damage.

例句

The craftsman chose pliant willow branches to weave the basket.

工匠選了容易彎曲的柳條來編織籃子。

collocation: pliant + natural material (willow branches)

Nora soaked the bamboo until it became pliant enough to bend into a circle.

Nora 把竹子浸泡到足以彎成圓形的程度。

pattern: become + pliant

同義詞
  • flexible

    more common for physical bendability; also covers non-physical meanings

  • pliable

    very close in meaning; pliable sometimes suggests softness while pliant suggests springy resistance

  • supple

    emphasises smooth, easy bending; often used for leather, skin, or body movements

反義詞
  • rigid

    stiff and unable to bend without breaking

  • stiff

    hard to bend; lacks the flexibility to change shape

用法筆記

Typically used for natural materials such as wood, branches, or leather, and for specially designed products such as soles or wires. Not used for abstract concepts such as rules or schedules.

常見錯誤

❌My work schedule is pliant this week.
✅My work schedule is flexible this week.
💡Pliant is reserved for physical bendability; flexible is the correct choice for abstract scheduling or arrangements.