docile Definition
- 1ready to accept control or instruction; submissive
- 2easily taught or trained
Using docile: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "docile" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The horse was docile and easy to handle.
Example
The students were docile and attentive during the lecture.
Example
She had a docile personality and rarely disagreed with others.
docile Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for docile
- compliant
- obedient
- submissive
- tractable
- malleable
Antonyms for docile
- unruly
- stubborn
- intractable
Phrases with docile
docile as a lamb
extremely obedient or submissive
Example
The new employee was docile as a lamb, always following orders without question.
docile disposition
a natural tendency to be obedient or submissive
Example
The dog's docile disposition made it easy to train.
docile child
a child who is well-behaved and obedient
Example
The teacher was pleased to have such a docile child in her class.
Origins of docile
from Latin 'docilis', meaning 'teachable'
Summary: docile in Brief
The term 'docile' [ˈdɑːsaɪl] describes a person or animal that is ready to accept control or instruction, and is easily taught or trained. It is often used to describe a well-behaved or obedient individual, as in 'The students were docile and attentive during the lecture.' 'Docile' can also be used in phrases like 'docile as a lamb,' which means extremely obedient, and 'docile child,' which refers to a well-behaved child.
