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supple JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˈsʌpəl/ · sup·ple
adjective
  1. Pliant, flexible, and easy to bend. The gymnast’s supple spine allowed her to perform flawless backbends.
  2. Lithe and agile when moving or bending. He moved with supple grace across the dance floor.
  3. Compliant; yielding to the will of others. The trainer preferred a supple horse that responded instantly to commands.
verb
  1. To make or become supple. She spent weeks stretching to supple her hamstrings before the marathon.
  2. To make compliant, submissive, or obedient. The manager tried to supple the staff into accepting the new schedule.
Did you know? The Latin root *supplex* also gave rise to the word ‘supplicant’, reflecting the original sense of ‘bending low’ or ‘humble’ that underlies today’s meaning of ‘supple’.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 16, 2026