tractable

[trak-tuh-buhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tractable ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

easily managed or controlled; docile; yielding: a tractable child; a tractable disposition.

easily worked, shaped, or otherwise handled; malleable.

Origin of tractable

1495–1505; < Latin tractābilis, equivalent to tractā(re) to handle, deal with (frequentative of trahere to draw) + -bilis -ble

Related formstrac·ta·bil·i·ty, trac·ta·ble·ness, nountrac·ta·bly, adverbnon·trac·ta·bil·i·ty, nounnon·trac·ta·ble, adjectivenon·trac·ta·ble·ness, nounnon·trac·ta·bly, adverbun·trac·ta·bil·i·ty, nounun·trac·ta·ble, adjectiveun·trac·ta·ble·ness, nounun·trac·ta·bly, adverb

Synonyms for tractable

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tractable ON THESAURUS.COM

1. manageable, willing, governable.

Antonyms for tractable

1. stubborn.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for tractable

amenable, complaisant, compliant, docile, ductile, facile, flexible, game, governable, malleable, meek, obedient, persuadable, plastic, pliable, pliant, subdued, submissive, tame, willing

Examples from the Web for tractable

Historical Examples of tractable

Flagg found him a tractable sitter, and a most interesting one.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete
Albert Bigelow Paine
Under the eye of his master he is the most tractable of all beings.
The Philippine Islands
John Foreman
The Alseas are not so tractable, and exhibit but little desire for improvement.
The Indian Question (1874)
Francis A. Walker
Do you mean that her schoolmistress does not find her tractable?
A True Friend
Adeline Sergeant
She tendered her now tractable guest a second cup of coffee.
Laramie Holds the Range
Frank H. Spearman

British Dictionary definitions for tractable

tractable

adjective

easily controlled or persuaded

readily worked; malleable

Derived Formstractability or tractableness, nountractably, adverb

Word Origin for tractable

C16: from Latin tractābilis, from tractāre to manage, from trahere to draw

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

Word Origin and History for tractable

adj.

"manageable," early 15c., from Latin tractabilis "that may be touched, handled, or managed," from tractare "to handle, manage" (see treat). Related: Tractability.