adj
C1
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docile
DOH-syl
Docile (adj) means Easy to control, teach, or manage; gentle and compliant. Example: “The old dog was docile and let the kids climb all over it.”
adj
1
Easy to control, teach, or manage; gentle and compliant.
"The old dog was docile and let the kids climb all over it."
"Years of training made the horse calm and docile."
How to use docile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCalm, obedient, and easy to handle — often used of animals or compliant people.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "docket" or "dock" — unrelated except for the shared spelling pattern.
Common pairings
a docile animal
docile temperament
remain docile
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more docile
- Superlative
- most docile
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old dog was _____ and let the kids climb all over it.
Etymology
From Latin docilis, "easily taught," from docere, "to teach" — the same root as "doctor" and "doctrine."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for docile
See all rhymes for docile →Frequently asked questions
What does “docile” mean?
The word “docile” means easy to control, teach, or manage; gentle and compliant. In plain terms, calm, obedient, and easy to handle — often used of animals or compliant people.
How do you pronounce “docile”?
“Docile” is pronounced DOH-syl (/ˈdɑ.səl/ in IPA).
How do you use “docile” in a sentence?
Here is “docile” used in a sentence: “The old dog was docile and let the kids climb all over it.”
What is another word for “docile”?
Words with a similar meaning to “docile” include amenable, biddable, complaisant, compliant, controllable and governable.
What is the opposite of “docile”?
The opposite of “docile” — its antonyms — are authoritarian, bossy, dictatorial, dominant and imperious.
What part of speech is “docile”?
“Docile” is an adjective.
Where does the word “docile” come from?
The word “docile” comes from Latin. From Latin docilis, "easily taught," from docere, "to teach" — the same root as "doctor" and "doctrine.".
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