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docile

adjective
doc·​ile | \ ˈdä-səl How to pronounce docile (audio) also -ˌsī(-ə)l, especially British ˈdō-ˌsī(-ə)l\

Definition of docile

1 : easily taught a docile pupil
2 : easily led or managed : tractable a docile pony
Other Words from docile Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Ready to learn the origin of docile? More Example Sentences Learn More about docile

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Other Words from docile

docilely \ ˈdä-​sə(l)-​lē How to pronounce docilely (audio) \ adverb
docility \ dä-​ˈsi-​lə-​tē How to pronounce docility (audio) , dō-​ \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for docile

obedient, docile, tractable, amenable mean submissive to the will of another. obedient implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority. obedient to the government docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance. a docile child tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing. tractable animals 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

Ready to learn the origin of docile?

Docile students can make teaching a lot easier. Nowadays, calling students "docile" indicates they aren't trouble-makers. But there's more than just good behavior connecting docility to teachability. The original meaning of "docile" is more to the point: "readily absorbing something taught." "The docile mind may soon thy precepts know," rendered Ben Jonson, for example, in a 17th-century translation of the Roman poet Horace. "Docile" comes from Latin docēre, which means "to teach." Other descendants of "docēre" include "doctrine" (which can mean "something that is taught"), "document" (the earliest meaning of which was "instruction"), and "doctor" and "docent" (both of which can refer to college teachers).

Examples of docile in a Sentence

In the course of a single month, from Annie's arrival to her triumph in bridling the household despot, Helen [Keller] had grown docile, affectionate, and tirelessly intent on learning from moment to moment. — Cynthia Ozick, New Yorker, 16 & 23 June 2003 Africanized honeybees look like the European honeybees now commonly found in our gardens, and like their relatives, they make honey. They are fairly docile when they are foraging, but they defend their nests ferociously. — Lynn Ocone, Sunset, February 1994 His students were docile and eager to learn. a docile young pony that went wherever it was led
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Experts say the younger sharks, in the six- to seven-foot range, are docile youngsters simply looking for warm water and food such as stingrays. — Laylan Connelly, The Mercury News, "Video: Southern California surfers unaware of nearby great whites," 23 Aug. 2019 In areas unaffected by hurricanes, meanwhile, docile colonies tended to dominate. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Hurricanes Are Making This Spider Species More Aggressive," 20 Aug. 2019 The Atlantic beaches along the coastline in Palm Beach County account for major turtle-nesting sites where these large, docile marine mammals return, year after year. — John Christopher Fine, sun-sentinel.com, "Rejoice as turtles make their return | Opinion," 15 Aug. 2019 Having gained some 40 pounds for the role, Stallone indeed looks chunky and plays the sleepy, docile Sheriff Freddy Heflin with sluggishness to spare in a largely commendable performance as a half-deaf small-town dreamer. — David Hunter, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Cop Land': THR's 1997 Review," 15 Aug. 2019 Beekeeper Sarah Hofeldt says the bees were surprisingly docile, and no one was stung during the extraction. — USA TODAY, "Barbie, Tupac, scorpions and Red Vines: News from around our 50 states," 19 July 2019 For 1,000-pound animals, most of the horses are surprisingly docile during the exam. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Del Mar has team of veterinarians looking out for horses’ welfare," 1 Aug. 2019 Has your normally docile puppy been cowering in a corner and peeing on the carpet? — Dahleen Glanton, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Fireworks will be going off in backyards all over the state this 4th of July. How’s that ban working out for you, Illinois?," 3 July 2019 The European bee, which beekeepers prefer for its large colonies and docile workers, generally lacked the Asian variety's defenses. — Erik Stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Breeders toughen up bees to resist deadly mites," 25 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'docile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of docile

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for docile

Latin docilis, from docēre to teach; akin to Latin decēre to be fitting — more at decent

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More Definitions for docile

docile

adjective
How to pronounce docile (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of docile

: easily taught, led, or controlled

See the full definition for docile in the English Language Learners Dictionary

docile

adjective
doc·​ile | \ ˈdä-səl How to pronounce docile (audio)

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