1 tractability | Definition of tractability
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tractable

adjective
trac·​ta·​ble | \ ˈtrak-tə-bəl How to pronounce tractable (audio) \

Definition of tractable

1 : capable of being easily led, taught, or controlled : docile a tractable horse
2 : easily handled, managed, or wrought : malleable
Other Words from tractable Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about tractable

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Other Words from tractable

tractability \ ˌtrak-​tə-​ˈbi-​lə-​tē How to pronounce tractability (audio) \ noun
tractableness \ ˈtrak-​tə-​bəl-​nəs How to pronounce tractableness (audio) \ noun
tractably \ ˈtrak-​tə-​blē How to pronounce tractably (audio) \ adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for tractable

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

Did You Know?

Obedient, docile, and amenable are synonyms of tractable, but those four words have slightly different shades of meaning. Tractable describes an individual whose character permits easy handling, while docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to authority. Obedient is often used to describe compliance with authority, although that compliance is not necessarily offered eagerly. Amenable, on the other hand, is usually used when one cooperates out of a desire to be agreeable. Tractable dates from the early 16th century and derives from the Latin verb tractare ("to handle" or "to treat"). Despite the resemblance, this root did not give us the noun tractor or verbs such as contract or attract-those all derive from a loosely related Latin verb trahere ("to draw or drag").

Examples of tractable in a Sentence

This new approach should make the problem more tractable. He's a very tractable child.

Recent Examples on the Web

 This problem is now becoming more tractable, thanks to robust systems in development that rely on readily available energy from the sun. — Donna J. Nelson, Scientific American, "Off-Grid Devices Draw Drinking Water from Dry Air," 26 June 2017 Maybe increasing clearance rates for serial killers is more tractable, an easier lift than bringing those numbers down. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Criminal profiling doesn’t work. TV shows should maybe stop celebrating it.," 12 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tractable.' 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 tractable

1502, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for tractable

Latin tractabilis, from tractare to handle, treat

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More Definitions for tractable

tractable

adjective
How to pronounce tractable (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of tractable

formal
: easily managed or controlled
: willing to learn or be guided by another

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

More from Merriam-Webster on tractable

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with tractable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tractable

Britannica English: Translation of tractable for Arabic Speakers

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