malleable
MAL-ee-uh-bul
/ˈmæliəbl̩/
Capable of being shaped, extended, or pounded thin by hammering; easily influenced or controlled.
Suggests permanent reshaping under external force or pressure; carries a neutral sense in metallurgy but often a critical tone when describing impressionable minds.
The story behind the word. Traced back to Latin 'malleare' (to hammer), from 'malleus' (a heavy hammer or mallet). Gold, silver, and copper were prized by ancient metalsmiths precisely because they were malleable—they yielded beneath the hammer without cracking.
Word relationships
- pliable: Pliable means easily bent, whereas malleable means capable of being hammered permanently into new forms.
- tractable: Tractable emphasizes easy management or obedience, while malleable emphasizes passive susceptibility to reshaping.
- unyielding: Unyielding means completely resistant to pressure, shaping, or influence.
- refractory: Refractory describes materials or persons stubborn and resistant to heat, pressure, or control.
Commonly confused with
- palpable: Malleable means hammerable or impressionable; palpable means touchable or plainly obvious.
Word family
- malleability (noun): The quality of being easily shaped or hammered.
Collocations
- malleable metal
- malleable mind
- highly malleable
- malleable substance
Idioms & expressions
- clay in someone's hands
- put through the mill
Example sentences
- "The minds of young people are as malleable as soft wax, easily molded by early impressions and careful instruction." Classic treatise on child development and education
- "Gold is the most malleable metal known, capable of being hammered into ultra-thin sheets of leaf." Material science discussion
Memory hook
MALLEABLE: think of a MALLET pounding metal into a new shape. Hammered into shape without cracking.
When not to use
Do not use for something that snaps back into shape after bending; use resilient instead.
Fun facts
- The tiny hammer-shaped bone in your middle ear is called the 'malleus' because it looks like a blacksmith's mallet.
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