docile

[ˈdəʊ.saɪl]
[ˈdɑː.saɪl]
German
Persian
Russian
Spanish

An animal that's docile is calm and easy-going.

When we talk about people or animals being docile, it usually means they're not going to cause any trouble. For example, if someone says a dog is docile, they mean you can trust it not to get aggressive. It's like the opposite of fierce or wild. Some people might find a docile pet appealing because it's low-maintenance and won't worry them with sudden outbursts. This word isn't usually used for describing plants or objects that don't have feelings.

How common is "docile"?

Word docile is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions

adjective

  • Ready to accept instruction or direction; obedient; subservient.

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amenablecompliantteachablecompliantmalleabledefiantperverserebelliouswilful

Real examples of "docile" in context

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