Meaning & use
docile
Last updated
UK/ˈdəʊsaɪl/
US/ˈdɑːsəl/
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Quiet and willing to do as you are told, and so easy to handle or train.
Grammar: Describes a person or animal: a docile horse, a docile crowd.
The horse was so docile that children could ride it.
After the long delay, the crowd stayed docile and orderly.
Their docile puppy never pulled on the lead.
Word forms
| comparative | more docile |
|---|---|
| superlative | most docile |
Common combinations
- docile animal
- A docile animal is safest for beginners.
- remain docile
- The patient remained docile throughout the exam.
- docile and obedient
- The dogs were docile and obedient.
- docile nature
- The breed is known for its docile nature.
Synonyms and how they differ
- meek
- Stresses humble, timid submission, mostly of people, where docile suggests easy to guide.
- tame
- Describes an animal used to humans, and can also mean dull.
- compliant
- A neutral, formal word for going along with rules or requests.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: docile or gentle?
docile vs gentle
Gentle describes kind, soft behavior; docile specifically means easy to control or teach.
Practice
The farmer chose a ___ cow for the school visit because it would not react to noise or crowds.
Choose one answer.
Docile means calm and easy to handle. The other options describe animals that would be difficult or unsafe with children.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “docile”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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