Definition of AMENABLE (original) (raw)
1
a
: having or showing willingness to agree or to accept something that is wanted or asked for
She said her peers wanted her to bend the rules, but she wasn't amenable.—
Erin Osmon
—usually used with to
His boss was amenable to the idea of his working from home.
b
: readily yielding, submitting, or cooperating —usually used with to
a government not amenable to change
c
formal : able to be controlled, organized, or affected by something —usually used with to
The data is amenable to analysis.
a disease amenable to treatment
The United States has … a higher rate of "mortality amenable to health care"—that's statistics-speak for people dying because they didn't see a doctor in time—than culturally and economically comparable nations …—Ben Burgis
d
The three factors necessary to spread disease are a pathogen, a host, and an amenable environment.—Emily Gedde
… a tropical or subtropical, mostly evergreen, moist environment with daytime temperatures around 75 degrees with 60 percent humidity, comfortably amenable conditions for the plants and people alike.—Lorene Edwards Forkner
—often used with to
conditions amenable to life
2
: legally subject or answerable —usually used with to
Moreover, the Piedmont Regional Jail is not a "person," and therefore not amenable to suit …—Preval v. Reno, 57 F. Supp. 2d 307 (1999)
Did you know?
Nowadays, amenable is often used to describe someone who is favorably disposed to something, but it ultimately comes from Latin minari, meaning “to threaten.” Since the 16th century, English speakers have been using it in courtrooms and law with the meaning “answerable,” as in “citizens amenable to the law.” It later developed the meanings “suited” (“a simple function ... which is perfectly amenable to pencil-and-paper arithmetic”—Nature, April 1973) and “responsive” (as in “illnesses that are amenable to drug therapy”). It also came to be used of people with a general disposition to be agreeable—like Mr. Dick in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, who was “the most friendly and amenable creature in existence.”
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for amenable
the bureau responsible for revenue collection
answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance.
an intelligence agency answerable to Congress
accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation.
elected officials are accountable to the voters
amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions.
laws are amenable to judicial review
not liable for the debts of the former spouse
obedient to the government
docile implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance.
tractable suggests having a character that permits easy handling or managing.
amenable suggests a willingness to yield or cooperate because of a desire to be agreeable or because of a natural open-mindedness.
Examples of amenable in a Sentence
While no one yet knows how wide … margins can go, contracts establish royalty rates and project them far into the future. Many agents have thus pushed for a term of license of just a few years. Publishers, however, are not always amenable. —Steven M. Zeitchik, Publishers Weekly, 14 June 1999 Some of the newer findings address a vexing flaw in the sole noninvasive screening test for detecting microscopic prostate cancer, the form most amenable to a cure. —Marc B. Garnick et al., Scientific American, December 1998
whatever you decide to do, I'm _amenable_—just let me know our normally balky cat becomes the most amenable of creatures when confronted with the strange environment of the veterinary clinic
Recent Examples on the Web That may make the next administration more amenable to working symbiotically with those nations. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 12 Aug. 2024 The automaker has been amenable to bespoke commissions from the very beginning, some of which have been remarkable in the extreme. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2024 Currently, there’s only political upside for environmental groups to ignore the problem or solely advocate for solutions that the industry is amenable to making. —Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Aug. 2024 If Earth is still amenable to human habitation, my guess is no. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for amenable 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amenable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Anglo-French, from amener "to bring, bring to a court (as witnesses, pledges), summon, take, lead" (also continental Old French) (from a- —going back to Latin ad- ad-— + mener "to lead, bring") + able -able — more at demean entry 2
First Known Use
circa 1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of amenable was circa 1599
Dictionary Entries Near amenable
Cite this Entry
“Amenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amenable. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
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Last Updated: 16 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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