Flexible vs. Inflexible

Capable of being flexed or bent without breaking; able to be turned or twisted without breaking.

Example: ‘When the splitting wind Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks. -William Shakespeare’;

Willing or prone to give way to the influence of others; not invincibly rigid or obstinate.

Example: ‘Phocion was a man of great severity, and no ways flexible to the will of the people. - Francis Bacon.’; ‘Women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible. - William Shakespeare’;

Capable or being adapted or molded in some way.

Example: ‘a flexible language’; ‘This was a principle more flexible to their purpose. -Rogers.’;

Something that is flexible.

Capable of being flexed or bent; admitting of being turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; yielding to pressure; not stiff or brittle.

Example: ‘When the splitting windMakes 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.

Example: ‘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.

Example: ‘This was a principle more flexible to their purpose.’;

extended meanings; capable of change;

Example: ‘a flexible character’; ‘flexible schedules’;

able to flex; able to bend easily;

Example: ‘slim flexible birches’;

able to adjust readily to different conditions;

Example: ‘an adaptable person’; ‘a flexible personality’; ‘an elastic clause in a contract’;

bending and snapping back readily without breaking

making or willing to make concessions;

Example: ‘loneliness tore through him...whenever he thought of...even the compromising Louis du Tillet’;

capable of bending easily without breaking

Example: ‘flexible rubber seals’;

able to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances

Example: ‘small businesses which are dependent on flexible working hours’;

(of a person) ready and able to change so as to adapt to different circumstances

Example: ‘you can save money if you're flexible about where your room is located’;

Not flexible; not capable of bending or being bent

Not willing to change, e.g. one's opinion or habits

Not capable of being bent; stiff; rigid; firm; unyielding.

Firm in will or purpose; not to be turned, changed, or altered; resolute; determined; unyieding; inexorable; stubborn.

Example: ‘"Inflexibleas steel."’; ‘A man of upright and inflexible temper . . . can overcome all private fear.’;

Incapable of change; unalterable; immutable.

Example: ‘The nature of things is inflexible.’;

extended meanings; incapable of change;

Example: ‘a man of inflexible purpose’;

not making concessions;

Example: ‘took an uncompromising stance in the peace talks’; ‘uncompromising honesty’;

literal meanings;

Example: ‘an inflexible iron bar’; ‘an inflexible knife blade’;

incapable of adapting or changing to meet circumstances;

Example: ‘a rigid disciplinarian’; ‘an inflexible law’; ‘an unbending will to dominate’;