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Adaptable vs Flexible - What's the difference?

adaptable | flexible |

As adjectives the difference between adaptable and flexible

is that adaptable is capable of adapting or of being adapted while flexible is capable of being flexed or bent without breaking; able to be turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; not stiff or brittle.

As a noun flexible is

something that is flexible.

adaptable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Capable of adapting or of being adapted.
  • * {{quote-book, author=Sabine Baring-Gould, title=, year=1901
    • , passage=Joan was adaptable , and easily fell in with the prevalent tone. She played her small jokes on each, and this readily dissolved restraint, and put all on terms of easy friendship.}}

    Related terms

    * adapt * adaptability * adaptableness * adaptably * adaptation * adaptational * adaptative * adaptatively * adaptativeness * adaptedness * adapter * adaption * adaptional * adaptitude * adaptive * adaptively * adaptiveness * adaptly * adaptness * adaptorial

    References

    * ----

    flexible

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Capable of being flexed or bent without breaking; able to be turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; not stiff or brittle.
    • When the splitting wind Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks. -
  • Willing or ready to yield to the influence of others; not invincibly rigid or obstinate; tractable; manageable; ductile; easy and compliant; wavering.
    • Phocion was a man of great severity, and no ways flexible to the will of the people. - .
    Women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible . -
  • Capable or being adapted or molded; plastic,; as, a flexible language.
    • This was a principle more flexible to their purpose. -Rogers.

    Synonyms

    * bendsome * ductile * inconstant * manageable * obsequious * pliant * pliable * supple * tractable * wavering

    Derived terms

    * flexibly * flexibleness

    Related terms

    * flexibility * inflexible

    See also

    * foldable

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chiefly, engineering, and, manufacturing) Something that is flexible.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2009, date=August 19, author=Terry McCrann, title=Win-win deal for the times, work=Herald Sun citation
    • , passage=Alcan is mostly flexibles -- and so it boosts Amcor's flexible packaging business to a globally significant $7 billion one. }}

    References

    * * (flexible) * (flexibility) ----