Word: malleable (adjective)

Associations

The word "malleable" describes something that can be easily shaped or changed. It is often used for materials like metals that can be hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking. It can also describe people or ideas that are flexible and open to change.

• The metal is malleable, so the blacksmith can shape it into a sword. Here, malleable means the metal can be physically bent or formed.
• She has a malleable personality and adapts well to new situations. Here, it means she is flexible and open-minded.
• The clay is malleable and easy to mold into different figures. This shows malleable used for soft materials.

A well-known synonym is "flexible." The difference is that "malleable" often refers to physical materials or abstract things like ideas being changeable, while "flexible" can mean bending without breaking, often used for physical objects or schedules.

Substitution

Other words you can use instead of "malleable" are:

• Flexible (more general, can be physical or abstract)
• Pliable (similar, often physical materials or soft things)
• Adaptable (more about people or ideas) Using "flexible" instead of "malleable" might sound more casual or broad, while "malleable" can sound more specific or technical.

Deconstruction

• Root: "malle-" comes from Latin "malleus," meaning "hammer."
• Suffix: "-able" means "able to be." So, "malleable" literally means "able to be hammered," which explains why it describes materials that can be shaped by hammering.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a person or situation where being malleable is a good trait? Why?
• What materials around you are malleable? How do you know?
• How is being malleable different from being stubborn or rigid? Can you give examples?