flexible

[ flek-suh-buhl ]
/ ˈflɛk sə bəl /

adjective

capable of being bent, usually without breaking; easily bent: a flexible ruler.
susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable: a flexible schedule.
willing or disposed to yield; pliable: a flexible personality.

noun

a flexible substance or material, as rubber or leather.

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Origin of flexible

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin flexibilis pliant, easily bent. See flex1, -ible

SYNONYMS FOR flexible

1 pliable, elastic, supple. Flexible, limber, pliant refer to that which bends easily. Flexible refers to that which is capable of being bent and adds sometimes the idea of compressibility or expansibility: a flexible piece of rubber hose. Limber is especially applied to the body to refer to ease of movement; it resembles flexible except that there is an idea of even greater ease in bending: a limber dancer. Pliant stresses an inherent quality or tendency to bend that does not require force or pressure from the outside; it may mean merely adaptable or may have a derogatory sense: a pliant character.
2 tractable, compliant.

ANTONYMS FOR flexible

1 stiff.
2 rigid.

OTHER WORDS FROM flexible

Words nearby flexible

flexcash, flexdollars, flexecutive, flexed, flexibilitas cerea, flexible, flexible spending account, flexible-rate mortgage, flexicurity, flexile, flexion
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for flexibly

British Dictionary definitions for flexibly

flexible
/ (ˈflɛksɪbəl) /

adjective

Also: flexile (ˈflɛksaɪl) able to be bent easily without breaking; pliable
adaptable or variableflexible working hours
able to be persuaded easily; tractable

Derived forms of flexible

flexibility or flexibleness, nounflexibly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for flexibly

flexible
[ flĕk′sə-bəl ]

adj.

Capable of being bent or flexed.
Capable of being bent repeatedly without injury or damage.

Other words from flexible

flex′i•bil′i•ty null n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.