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adj. 1. Capable of being shaped or formed, as by hammering or pressure: a malleable metal. 2. Easily controlled or influenced: "The British [rulers] ... had favoured the brother who struck them as altogether more amiable, a more malleable, more temperate man" (Paul Scott). 3. a. Able to adjust to changing circumstances; adaptable: a malleable leader unafraid to compromise. b. Capable of being changed or adjusted to meet particular or varied needs: the malleable rhythms of jazz. [Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin malleābilis, from malleāre, to hammer, from Latin malleus, hammer; see melə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] mal′le·a·bili·ty, malle·a·ble·ness n. malle·a·bly adv. Synonyms: malleable, ductile, plastic, pliable, pliant These adjectives mean capable of being shaped, bent, or drawn out: malleable metals such as gold and silver; ductile copper; a plastic substance such as wax; soaked the leather to make it pliable; pliant molten glass. |
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