impressionable

[im-presh-uh-nuh-buhl, -presh-nuh-]

adjective

1. easily impressed or influenced; susceptible.

   an impressionable youngster.

   Synonyms: suggestible, responsive, receptive

2. capable of being impressed.

impressionable

/ -ˈprɛʃnə-, ɪmˈprɛʃənəbəl /

adjective

1. easily influenced or characterized by susceptibility to influence

   an impressionable child

   an impressionable age

Other Word Forms

• impressionability noun
• impressionableness noun
• impressionably adverb
• nonimpressionability noun
• nonimpressionable adjective
• nonimpressionableness noun
• overimpressionability noun
• overimpressionable adjective
• overimpressionableness noun
• overimpressionably adverb
• unimpressionable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of impressionable¹

1825–35; impression + -able; compare French impressionnable

Example Sentences

At the wake, family members tried to soften the blow for the impressionable young girl.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But he carries the pathos of the impressionable idiot.

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Instead she holds forth on her cosmopolitan travels and philosophy of life, forming a close bond with a handful of impressionable students.

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Schools and parents have a vital role to play in "helping children identify positive role models and resist the manipulation too often used online to groom impressionable young minds," she added.

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Pines says he also had concerns that some of these guests - who looked like they were in their early 20s - were "too young" and "impressionable" for his then 50-year-old boss.

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Related Words

• susceptible