adjective

supple

/ˈsʌpəl/ · say it: SUP·ul

flexible and pliant

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (adjective) able to bend and move easily without breaking; flexible

2. (adjective) moving smoothly and gracefully; lithe

Examples

1. Dancers need supple bodies to perform difficult movements.
2. The supple movements of the gymnast impressed the judges.

How to use supple

Supple describes something that bends easily and gracefully, often with an aesthetic or physical elegance. It applies both to materials (leather, wood) and to living bodies (dancers, gymnasts), emphasizing fluid, effortless movement. It is more evocative and literary than the neutral term flexible, suggesting sophistication and ease.

Common phrases

supple body
supple movements
supple leather
supple limbs
supple joints

Synonyms

flexible · limber · lithe · pliable · agile

Opposites

stiff · rigid · inflexible

Word family

suppleness (noun) · suppler (comparative) · supplest (superlative) · supplely (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse supple with simple; they are different words with unrelated meanings, and supple does not mean easy to understand.

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