amenable

[uh-mee-nuh-buhl, uh-men-uh-]

adjective

1. ready or willing to answer, act, agree, or yield; open to influence, persuasion, or advice; agreeable; submissive; tractable.

   an amenable servant.

   Synonyms: easy, docile, manageable
   Antonyms: recalcitrant, stubborn

2. liable to be called to account; answerable; legally responsible.

   You are amenable for this debt.

3. capable of or agreeable to being tested, tried, analyzed, etc.

   Synonyms: responsible, accountable

amenable

/ əˈmiːnəbəl /

adjective

1. open or susceptible to suggestion; likely to listen, cooperate, etc

2. accountable for behaviour to some authority; answerable

3. capable of being or liable to be tested, judged, etc

Other Word Forms

• amenability noun
• amenableness noun
• amenably adverb
• nonamenability noun
• nonamenable adjective
• nonamenableness noun
• nonamenably adverb
• unamenable adjective
• unamenably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of amenable¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Anglo-French, equivalent to Middle French amen(er) “to lead to” ( a- a- ⁵ + mener, from Late Latin mināre “to push, impel,” from Latin minārī “to threaten”) + -able -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of amenable¹

C16: from Anglo-French, from Old French amener to lead up, from Latin mināre to drive (cattle), from minārī to threaten

Example Sentences

Through his stature and amenable nature, he has been able to enhance a team spirit already fostered by friendships, but without the need for bonding sessions which feel forced.

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The new cabinet, without the former deputy PM, author of a leaked letter on wealth taxes, might be more amenable.

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Conservationist David Fleay – who was asked to help with the mission – was less amenable.

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Given that Alonso gets his first chance to drive an Adrian Newey-designed car next year, the chances of him being especially amenable to that are low.

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Hamas is seen to have been further weakened by the strikes on Iran - a key regional patron - meaning it could also be more amenable to making concessions needed to reach an agreement.

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Related Words

• agreeable 
• responsive 
• susceptible