malleable

UK /ˈmæliəbəl/ US /ˈmæliəbəl/ Syllables: mal-le-a-ble

Pronunciation

Adjective B2 Upper-intermediate Neutral

Easily shaped or influenced.

Malleable describes something that can be shaped without breaking. The first meaning is about materials: a malleable metal, such as gold, copper or lead, can be hammered or pressed into new shapes. The second meaning is about people and ideas: a malleable mind is easy to influence, train or change, and a malleable plan can be adjusted. In this use the word can sound positive, meaning adaptable, or negative, meaning too easy to push around. Close words are pliable, flexible, adaptable, moldable and ductile. The opposite is rigid, inflexible or stubborn. The noun is malleability and the adverb is malleably.

"Gold is one of the most malleable metals, easily hammered into thin sheets."

Meanings

Able to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking.
Easily influenced, trained or adapted.

Example sentences

"Gold is a soft, malleable metal."

Level B2, Meaning 1
"The clay stays malleable while it is wet."

Level B2, Meaning 1
"Young children have malleable minds."

Level C1, Meaning 2
"The plan is malleable enough to change with the weather."

Level C1, Meaning 2

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms

pliable adaptable

Antonyms

rigid inflexible

Look-alikes and common mistakes

ductile : Ductile means able to be drawn into a wire. Malleable means able to be hammered into a shape.
pliable : Pliable means easy to bend. It is a close synonym and is common for everyday objects.
mallet : A mallet is a hammer-like tool. It belongs to the same family of words as malleable.
malicious : Malicious means wanting to cause harm. It looks a little like malleable but is unrelated.

Word family and forms

Forms: more malleable, most malleable

malleability malleably malleableness unmalleable

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "malleable".

malleable metal
a malleable mind
malleable material
highly malleable
malleable plastic
a malleable personality

Origin

Malleable came into English in the 1300s from Middle French malleable and Medieval Latin malleabilis, which come from the Latin verb malleare, meaning to hammer, and the noun malleus, meaning hammer. The ending able means able to be. The sense of being easy to influence is a figurative use of the sense of metal that can be shaped.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

Usage notes

"Malleable" is used both for metals that can be shaped and, figuratively, for people or opinions that are easily influenced.

How to remember it

Malleable comes from a Latin word for hammer. A malleable thing is one that a hammer can shape.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "Gold is a soft, _____ metal."

Answer: malleable

In your own words, what does "malleable" mean?