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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 President Trump has been amenable to Libertarian concerns. Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 21 Jan. 2025 Though the Post was amenable to publishing the inside ad, Common Cause told the paper to forget it and walked away. Liam Reilly, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025 That stance has unnerved Ukraine, lending a sense of urgency to Kyiv’s need to appear willing to negotiate and to be amenable to Washington’s proposals on a peace deal. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025 In cooler locations and higher elevations, plant deciduous trees and shrubs in early or late winter when soil conditions are more amenable. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amenable
Adjective
  • How much money the investor is willing to put up depends on any number of parameters.
    LEW SICHELMAN, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Despite experiencing that grief, the actress isn’t willing to be with anyone just to avoid being alone.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The twist offered in this tale is that this dutiful and obedient AI proceeds to gobble up all the available resources on earth to maximally achieve this goal.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The twist offered in this tale is that this dutiful and obedient AI proceeds to gobble up all the available resources on earth to maximally achieve this goal.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But human activity is responsible for about 90% of all wildfires in the nation.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • One female wolf has traveled more than 1,230 miles since it was released in January and was responsible for most of the activity in southern watersheds last month, wildlife officials said.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Each of them was based on an agreement that McVeigh's comments would not be published until the defense decided when, or if, their client was ready to tell his story publicly.
    Kevin Johnson, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Local vendors all across Kansas City are ready to share their crops and crafted goods with the public this spring and summer.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • These rules establish that an executor who makes distributions from the estate before satisfying estate tax liability may become personally liable for the unpaid estate tax.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D., Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Spacey has denied any allegations of improper or criminal behavior and in 2022, he was found not liable for battery against actor Anthony Rapp. CNN has reached out to representatives for Spacey and Netflix for comment about the new video.
    Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Greek students were more inclined to develop mentoring relationships with professors, participate in extra-curricular activities and graduate on time compared with unaffiliated students.
    Wynn Smiley, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Join 108 others in the comments View Comments Some supporters of Trump may be more inclined to buy Tesla than there were in the past, but that’s not enough to make up for the loss of sales to liberal buyers, said Kelly O’Keefe, founder of branding consultant Brand Federation.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The industry is surely glad to hear that the FDA, at least right now, is not implementing a ban for common dyes such as Yellow 5.
    Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Area beekeepers are always glad to add to their own hives, or share them with other backyard beekeepers.
    Joan Morris, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Amenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amenable. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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