Influencable Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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influencable

[ˌɪnfluˈɛnsəbl ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

easily influenced

Capable of being easily influenced or persuaded by others.

Synonyms

malleable, pliable, pliant, suggestible.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
influencable

Useful when speaking about someone who can be easily swayed or persuaded by others. Often used in psychological or social contexts.

  • Teenagers are usually more influencable than adults.
  • The marketing campaign targeted influencable consumers.
suggestible

Pertains to someone who is prone to accept or act on suggestions from others. Frequently used in psychological or social studies.

  • Children are highly suggestible during their formative years.
  • Hypnosis works best on suggestible individuals.
malleable

Used to describe someone or something that can be easily shaped or molded, both physically and metaphorically. This term can often carry a negative connotation when referring to people.

  • Gold is a malleable metal.
  • The young intern was malleable and eager to learn.
pliable

Refers to something or someone that is flexible and can adapt to different situations. This term can apply to both physical properties and personal characteristics.

  • Rubber is a very pliable material.
  • He is a pliable team member, always willing to take on different roles.
pliant

Often used in a similar context to 'pliable,' but can also have a slightly negative nuance when referring to people, implying they may be too easily led.

  • She used a pliant wood for her sculpture.
  • The new recruit was pliant and followed orders without question.

Examples of usage

  • She was a young, impressionable girl, very influencable by her peers.
  • He is quite influencable and tends to go along with the crowd.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Social influence theory suggests that people are affected by others' opinions, leading to changes in beliefs or behaviors.
  • Conformity experiments, like those by Solomon Asch, demonstrated that individuals often change their answers to align with a group's perception.

Cultural Influence

  • In the age of social media, influencers have emerged who can sway large audiences, showcasing how public figures can affect opinions and trends.
  • Advertising heavily relies on creating images of influencers to affect consumer behavior and purchasing decisions.

Education

  • Teachers can be seen as influencable figures in shaping students' ideas and ethics, significantly impacting their development.
  • Peer influence in schools highlights how easily students can adopt behaviors valued by their friend groups.

Philosophy

  • Philosophers like Aristotle focused on the impact of rhetoric, exploring how language can influence thought and action.
  • Discussions on free will often address the balance between being influencable and the notion of personal autonomy.

Origin of 'influencable'

Main points about word origin

  • The word combines 'influence', which comes from Latin 'influere', meaning 'to flow into'.
  • The suffix '-able' implies capability, making it suggestive of being open to influence.

The word 'influencable' is derived from the verb 'influence', which came into English via Old French from the Latin 'influere', meaning 'to flow into'. The suffix '-able' is used to indicate capability or susceptibility. Therefore, 'influencable' describes something or someone that can be influenced easily.


See also: influenceably, influenced, influencer, influencible, influencing, influential, uninfluenced.