elastic, resilient, springy, flexible, supple mean able to endure strain without being permanently injured. elastic implies the property of resisting deformation by stretching.
an elastic waistband resilient implies the ability to recover shape quickly when the deforming force or pressure is removed.
a resilient innersole springy stresses both the ease with which something yields to pressure and the quickness of its return to original shape.
the cake is done when the top is springyflexible applies to something which may or may not be resilient or elastic but which can be bent or folded without breaking.
flexible plastic tubing supple applies to something that can be readily bent, twisted, or folded without any sign of injury.
supple leather
Examples of flexible in a Sentence
flexible branches swaying in the breeze
a material that is both strong and flexible
She's been doing exercises to become stronger and more flexible.
Our schedule for the weekend is very flexible.
This computer program has to be flexible to meet all our needs.
Whatever you want to do is fine with me. I'm flexible.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flexible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Middle English, borrowed from Latin flexibilis, from flexus (past participle of flectere "to cause to go in a different direction, bend, curve," of uncertain origin) + -ibilis-ible