supple
SUP-ul
/ˈsʌpl/
Bending and moving easily and gracefully; flexible.
Carries a connotation of elegance and youthfulness. Often used for skin, leather, or a well-trained body.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'supplex', meaning 'submissive' or 'kneeling' (literally 'folding under'). It originally described someone who was humble enough to bend their knees.
Word relationships
- pliant: Pliant often means easily influenced or bent by outside force; supple implies an internal quality of grace.
- brittle: Hard but liable to break or shatter easily; the opposite of supple.
Commonly confused with
- flexible: Flexible is a general term; supple is more descriptive and often more positive/aesthetic.
Word family
- suppleness (noun): The quality of being supple.
Collocations
- supple joints
- supple leather
- supple limbs
Example sentences
- "The gymnast's supple body allowed her to perform the most difficult contortions." Physical description
- "The high-quality leather was soft and supple to the touch." Material description
Memory hook
A 'Supple' person can 'Supply' a lot of different moves. Gracefully bendable.
When not to use
Avoid using it for rigid objects that happen to bend; it's for things that are naturally or gracefully flexible.
Fun facts
- The word 'supplicant' (someone who prays or begs) comes from the same root of 'bending under'.
Related words
Also appears in
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