Definition of amenablenext
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as in responsible
being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so even our nation's highest leaders must remain amenable to the law

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word amenable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of amenable are docile, obedient, and tractable. While all these words mean "submissive to the will of another," amenable suggests a willingness to yield or cooperate because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness.

amenable to new ideas

When is it sensible to use docile instead of amenable?

The words docile and amenable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance.

a docile child

When might obedient be a better fit than amenable?

While in some cases nearly identical to amenable, obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority.

obedient to the government

When could tractable be used to replace amenable?

While the synonyms tractable and amenable are close in meaning, tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing.

tractable animals

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of amenable Butera said Abrams was amenable to the move while noting that shortstops take pride in playing the position — something Abrams also acknowledged. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 But jobs are really bundles of tasks, some more amenable to automation than others, according to Stanford professor Charles Jones, a leading scholar of how AI will affect growth. — Matt Peterson,kate Rooney, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 Branagh’s Lopakhin is unusually amenable, said Arifa Akbar in The Guardian. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 30 July 2026 This can be challenging for the beginner, especially if dealing with unstable conditions that require the starter needing to be moved from spot to spot amenable for fermentation. — Shirl Leigh july 16, New Atlas, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for amenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amenable
Adjective
  • Audiences are more willing than ever to consume and accept differentiated content – look at the success of phenomena such as Obsession and Backrooms.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For weddings, big celebrations, or private dinners for couples willing to pay the price, events and meals can be organized by the hotel inside the Château.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Reflecting on her obedient past as a child actor, Panettiere told THR that that pressure ultimately took a toll on her.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The native, late summer-blooming obedient plant is a showy addition to your garden.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan's Taliban government of sheltering militants responsible for cross-border attacks.
    — MUNIR AHMED, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Raffles Bali also takes a responsible approach to waste management, using compost fertilizer made from kitchen and landscape waste and repurposing calcium carbonate-rich eggshells from the restaurants for organic fertilizer in the herb garden.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Billed as an immersive matchmaking experience and a new take on the dating show, the format features singletons who are tired of swiping and first dates and are ready to get hitched.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • When they were scheduled to play in Rio, they were seen as an encapsulation of a nefarious past the country was ready to move away from.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • So when an agent goes rogue, can they be found liable under these laws?
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In a case this spring, a jury in California found Meta and YouTube liable in a social media addiction case.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • On an inclined or sitting surface, their heads can fall forward or their bodies can shift into a position that compromises breathing.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The lightest atomic nuclei are found in hydrogen atoms, and these are the most inclined to quantum tunneling.
    — Sophya Garashchuk, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Somewhere between all the wings and dips, someone will be glad to see something fresh.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The 6-foot, 200-pound Jenkins, known as Lightz by his teammates, wasn’t nervous about taking the field, just glad to be back on the football field.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Amenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amenable. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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