flexible

[ flek-suh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being bent, usually without breaking; easily bent:

   a flexible ruler.

   Synonyms: supple, elastic, pliable

   Antonyms: stiff

2. susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable:

   a flexible schedule.

   Synonyms: compliant, tractable

   Antonyms: rigid

3. willing or disposed to yield; pliable:

   a flexible personality.

noun

1. a flexible substance or material, as rubber or leather.

flexible

/ ˈflɛksɪbəl /

adjective

1. Alsoflexileˈflɛksaɪl able to be bent easily without breaking; pliable
2. adaptable or variable

   flexible working hours

3. able to be persuaded easily; tractable

Derived Forms

• ˌflexiˈbility, noun
• ˈflexibly, adverb

Other Words From

• flex·i·bil·i·ty [flek-s, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], flex·i·ble·ness noun
• flex·i·bly adverb
• hy·per·flex·i·ble adjective
• hy·per·flex·i·ble·ness noun
• hy·per·flex·i·bly adverb
• non·flex·i·ble adjective
• non·flex·i·ble·ness noun
• non·flex·i·bly adverb
• un·flex·i·ble adjective
• un·flex·i·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flexible¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin flexibilis “pliant, easily bent”; flex ¹, -ible

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

To help the tech player navigate and manage its growth not only as a somewhat-newly-public company but also as an increasingly distributed one—even after the pandemic passes, Slack expects to have a much more flexible workforce.

From Fortune

Successful re-opening, therefore, will require that schools be flexible and make some changes.

From Science News For Students

However, over the last six months, the movement to reshape advertising to actually be agile, nimble and flexible has no longer been an abstract idea but rather a necessity.

From Digiday

These perovskite layers are also being developed to manufacture flexible solar panels that can be processed to roll like newsprint, further reducing costs.

From Singularity Hub 

Over time, mathematicians have developed an increasingly flexible view of what it means for two objects to be “the same.”

From Quanta Magazine

And lo, Snowballs—underpants which can hold a flexible gel pack that you store in the freezer—was born.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, a more flexible interpretation is just as accurate.

From The Daily Beast

Have a plan but be flexible and adjust to emerging realities.

From The Daily Beast

The US should be more flexible and honest regarding its policy of never paying ransom for hostages.

From The Daily Beast

For example, to build flexible career and promotional tracks which do not conflict with biology.

From The Daily Beast

All the ancient civilized peoples used ropes and cordage, made from such flexible materials as their countries afforded.

From Project Gutenberg

She could admire their fine flexible play under the water; do what she would with them her hands at least were feminine.

From Project Gutenberg

This consists of a tarred rope, or a flexible whip-stalk, three-fourths of an inch in diameter, with a swab or bulbous end.

From Project Gutenberg

The dry leaflets may be made flexible for this purpose by laying them on the grass in the night air.

From Project Gutenberg

Jimmy Hall, the sealer, laid his flexible rule over the face of each log.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• malleable
• soft