docile

[dos-uhl, doh-sahyl]

adjective

1. easily managed or handled; tractable.

   a docile horse.

   Synonyms: obedient, malleable, manageable

2. readily trained or taught; teachable.

docile

/ ˈdəʊsaɪl, dəʊˈsɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. easy to manage, control, or discipline; submissive

2. rare,  ready to learn; easy to teach

Other Word Forms

• docilely adverb
• docility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of docile¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin docilis “readily taught,” equivalent to doc(ēre) “to teach” + -ilis adjective suffix ( -ile )

Word History and Origins

Origin of docile¹

C15: from Latin docilis easily taught, from docēre to teach

Example Sentences

This was unexpected, as pheasants are usually quite docile birds, and tasty, too.

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After their snake handler’s docile specimen has an onset mishap, the real thing slithers into view.

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It turns out there’s quite a bit of sadness behind Luna’s bubbliness and a good deal of steel underneath Jane’s docile demeanor.

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A university professor who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity employs a 10-year-old boy because children are "cheaper and more docile".

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Rules are spelled out at the top that make clear that this isn’t one of those docile theatergoing experiences, in which the audience is expected to keep mum as the actors do all the work.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• easygoing 
• gentle 
• laid-back 
• meek 
• obedient 
• pliable 
• pliant 
• well-behaved