tractable
TRAK-tuh-bul
/ˈtræktəbl̩/
Easy to control, influence, manage, or train; easily dealt with.
Describes people, animals, or complex mathematical problems that submit readily to guidance, handling, or solution.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'tractabilis' (manageable), from 'tractare' (to handle, drag, treat), an intensive form of 'trahere' (to draw or drag). Originally applied to livestock that could be led easily by a rope or rein.
Word relationships
- docile: Docile implies passive, quiet submission, whereas tractable emphasizes being easy to manage, direct, or solve.
- malleable: Malleable focuses on being hammered into shape, while tractable focuses on being easily guided or governed.
- intractable: Intractable means stubbornly resistant to guidance, management, or solution.
- recalcitrant: Recalcitrant describes obstinate defiance toward authority or discipline.
Commonly confused with
- trackable: Tractable means manageable; trackable means able to be followed or traced geographically.
Word family
- tractability (noun): The quality of being easy to manage or control.
Collocations
- tractable problem
- tractable child
- highly tractable
- tractable nature
Idioms & expressions
- lead by the nose
- easy to handle
Example sentences
- "The horses were tractable under his gentle hand, following his guidance without the slightest resistance." 19th-century novel narrative on animal behavior
- "By simplifying the boundary conditions, researchers converted the intractable differential equation into a tractable model." Applied mathematics research paper
Memory hook
TRACTable: like a TRACTOR pulling something along a smooth track without resistance. Easily pulled or guided along the right path.
When not to use
Do not use to describe physical elasticity or bouncing back from injury; use resilient or flexible.
Fun facts
- The root 'trahere' also gave us 'tractor' (that which pulls), 'attract' (to pull toward), and 'abstract' (pulled away).
Explore more words
docile, malleable, ductile, straightforward, amiable, submissive
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.