What does malleable mean?
Word: Malleable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Malleable means able to be pressed or beaten into a new shape without breaking, as many metals can be. A malleable person is one who is easily influenced by others.
Synonyms: pliable, flexible, soft
Antonyms: brittle, stubborn
Word origin: From Medieval Latin malleabilis, from Latin malleare, a verb formed from the noun malleus.
How do you spell malleable?
Syllables: mal - le - a - ble
Tricky part: In the middle, e comes before a; many students write an i there because the sound is "ee-uh".
Watch out for: malliable, malleible
Memory tip: Think of a metal sheet being pressed flat and remember E-A: Easily Altered, the two vowels in the middle.
Malleable in a sentence
Example 1: Copper is malleable, which is why it can be shaped into pots and pans.
Example 2: Clay is malleable when wet but hard once it dries in the kiln.
Example 3: Young children's tastes are malleable, so Amma keeps offering them new vegetables.
Fun Fact
Gold is the most malleable metal: a single gram can be beaten into a sheet about one square metre in size.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the word in which both blanks take the same letter:
a) du_ _ble
b) cap_ _le
c) ma_ _eable
d) po_ _able
Show answer
c) ma_ _eable. Malleable takes l and l; durable needs r and a, portable r and t, and capable a and b.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
Malleable comes from the Latin word malleus. What did malleus mean?
a) a chain
b) a coin
c) a hammer
d) a furnace
Show answer
c) a hammer. Metal that is malleable can be shaped with this tool, which is what the Latin word named.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. malleable 2. transparent 3. fragile a. opaque b. rigid c. sturdy
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
Show answer
d) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c. Rigid things will not bend, opaque things let no light through, and sturdy things do not break easily.
Spell Spies
Choose the pair which has a spelling error:
a) rubber : elastik
b) steel : strong
c) glass : brittle
d) gold : malleable
Show answer
a) rubber : elastik. Elastic ends in -ic, as plastic does; every other pair is spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which material is malleable at room temperature?
a) a glass marble
b) a dry biscuit
c) a stick of chalk
d) aluminium foil
Show answer
d) aluminium foil
2. Calling a person malleable means they ___.
a) rarely speak to strangers
b) always arrive on time
c) are strong and muscular
d) are easily swayed by others
Show answer
d) are easily swayed by others
