Amenable
adjective /əˈmiːnəbl/ — Open to suggestion — not passive, but genuinely willing.
Definition
Open to suggestion or advice; responsive and willing to cooperate; capable of being dealt with in a particular way.
Beyond the definition
Amenable is a useful social word. It's the quality that makes collaboration feel easy — not agreeing blindly, but being genuinely open. The opposite of defensive.
Origin & history
From Latin amenare — to lead forward (a- 'to' + minare 'to drive with threats', from minae 'threats'). Originally about being subject to authority. Now softened: the amenable person cooperates freely.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She was amenable to changing the timeline if it meant the work would be better.
The new team was amenable in a way the previous one had not been — ideas landed differently.
Being amenable isn't weakness — it's the confidence to change your mind when something better appears.
Synonyms
cooperative, agreeable, receptive, open, willing, flexible
Antonyms
uncooperative, stubborn, resistant, obstinate
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Cooperating on Model Bridge
Three adults cooperate around a table, contributing different pieces and consulting a diagram to interlock their wooden and transparent materials into one structure.
Amenable means willing to cooperate and open to suggestions. By working together to combine their different pieces into a single, supported bridge, the participants show their ability to be responsive and open to the collective input, allowing them to adjust their efforts to fit into a larger, shared project.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration