List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 262

SYNONYMS: obedient, biddable, compliant, acquiescent, submissive, docile, amenable, tractable.
These adjectives mean carrying or willing to carry out the orders, requests, or wishes of another.

Obedient implies acceptance of and submission to authority: an obedient pupil; an obedient soldier. The obedient colonies in this scheme are heavily taxed.
One who is biddable follows directions or obeys commands: A more gentle and biddable invalid can hardly be conceived.
Compliant and acquiescent suggest a disposition to yield to authority meekly and without protest: children compliant with the parental will; too acquiescent to challenge the propriety of offering a bribe.
Submissive implies an inclination or a willingness to submit without resistance and sometimes with deference to the control of another: They are replacing the troublemakers with more submissive people from the masses of unemployed.
One who is docile is receptive to being taught and willing to be led, supervised, or directed by another: A State which dwarfs its men, in order that they may be more docile instruments in its hands even for beneficial purposes---will find that with small men no great thing can really be accomplished.
Amenable suggests an agreeable responsiveness to authority, advice, or suggestion: a high-spirited and rebellious girl not at all amenable to persuasion.
Tractable applies to those who can be handled, dealt with, or managed, especially with ease: The natives were of an intelligent tractable disposition.

⇦ Back to No 261    Return to Synonym Choices Page 21    On to No 263 ⇨