pliable

modif.

1. Flexible

   flexible, pliant, plastic, ductile, malleable, limber, supple, elastic, bending, bendable, workable; see also flexible 1.

2. Tractable

   tractable, pliant, docile, compliant, persuadable, persuasible, receptive, manipulable, adaptable, flexible, malleable, yielding, acquiescent, manageable, impressionable, irresolute, like putty*; see also docile, obedient 1.

pliable and pliant both imply a capability of being easily bent, suggesting the suppleness of a wooden switch and, figuratively, a yielding nature or adaptability; plastic is used of substances, such as plaster or clay, that can be molded into various forms which are retained upon hardening, and figuratively suggests an impressionable quality; ductile applies to that which can be finely drawn or stretched out, as copper, and figuratively suggests being easily led; malleable is used of that which can be hammered, beaten, or pressed into various forms and figuratively suggests a readiness to be trained, changed, molded, etc. copper is malleable as well as ductile; at a malleable age