amenable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "amenable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a person or thing that is receptive to suggestions or influence. Example: I am pleasantly surprised to find that the committee is amenable to my ideas.

✓ Grammatically correct

Willing to respond to persuasion or suggestions

Willing to comply with; agreeable

Being a locally compact topological group carrying a kind of averaging operation on bounded functions that is invariant under translation by group elements

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was four at the time and not particularly amenable to being photographed.

The Guardian - Arts

Hence the European Union's recent emphasis on revising the rules around data protection, and on our so-called right to be forgotten – a proposition that raises important questions: what counts as personal data in the first place, where burdens of proof and administrative effort will lie, and how amenable present business models are to such a notion in the first place.

The Guardian - Opinion

They could call fresh elections to the 108-member assembly in the hope that the voters will provide a more amenable batch of assemblymen.

The Guardian

House Republicans would be much more amenable to this type of approach.

The Guardian

Murdoch's willingness to embrace Labour (beyond his grudge against Major) is partly because his children were leaning that way, and because his children were able to help make Blair more amenable to him.

The Guardian - Opinion

Britain's current relations with Bahrain, for example, are bafflingly cosy – even to the extent of removing an ambassador who upset the Bahraini authorities by meeting some members of the opposition, and replacing him with one who is much more amenable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Deaths from causes amenable to treatment have been falling faster than those which might have been prevented by public health measures, including vaccination, since 2001.

The Guardian

Hard work will only get you so far if circumstances aren't amenable.

The Guardian - Money

Meanwhile, the figures, modelled by friends, acquaintances and amenable members of the working class, were done in the studio where Brown agonised for weeks over such details as the potboy's fancy waistcoat.

The Guardian - Arts

In all, 114,740 (23%) of the 506,790 deaths recorded in the two countries were either amenable to treatment or could have been prevented through public health measures, or sometimes both, according to experimental statistics published on Wednesday.

The Guardian

Other stumbling blocks have proven less amenable to profit, such as an investigation into ethics violations and a recent Palin family brawl "involving alcohol", a "stretch Hummer" and various family members "shirtless" or "out of control".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "amenable", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the subject is amenable to. For instance, specify whether someone is amenable to suggestions, changes, or treatment to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "amenable" to describe someone who is actively initiating change; instead, reserve it for describing someone's willingness to accept or comply with changes initiated by others.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "amenable" is as an adjective. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, describing its quality of being receptive or willing to agree or comply. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "amenable" is used to describe subjects ranging from people to systems.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "amenable" functions as an adjective, primarily used to describe someone or something that is receptive to suggestions, influence, or change. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely applicable in various contexts. Its usage spans from describing a person's willingness to comply to the suitability of something to a particular treatment or process. It's most frequently found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. Synonyms include "receptive", "compliant", and "agreeable", each carrying slightly different nuances. When using "amenable", clarify what the subject is receptive to. While the word itself is generally neutral, it can be useful to consider more forceful alternatives to show the degree of openness that you want to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

open to suggestion

Directly conveys the willingness to consider advice or ideas, providing a more explicit explanation of the attitude that "amenable" implies.

receptive

Implies a readiness to receive and consider new ideas or suggestions, suggesting a more open-minded approach than "amenable".

agreeable

Indicates a general pleasantness and willingness to concur, focusing on a positive disposition rather than a susceptibility to influence like "amenable".

responsive

Emphasizes a quick and positive reaction to stimuli or requests, focusing on the action of responding rather than the inherent disposition implied by "amenable".

compliant

Suggests a tendency to agree with requests or demands, sometimes implying a lack of independent judgment compared to "amenable".

persuadable

Highlights the capacity to be convinced, concentrating on the process of changing someone's mind, unlike the state of being described by "amenable".

tractable

Highlights the ease with which something can be managed or controlled, often applied to situations or problems more so than people, unlike "amenable".

well-disposed

Implies a favorable attitude or inclination, suggesting a generally positive stance rather than a specific receptiveness to influence like "amenable".

susceptible

Indicates a vulnerability to influence, sometimes implying a lack of resistance, which can have a more negative connotation than "amenable".

easily influenced

Directly states the characteristic of being readily affected by others, lacking the subtlety and professional tone that "amenable" often carries.

FAQs

How can I use "amenable" in a sentence?

You can use "amenable" to describe someone or something that is receptive to suggestions or easily persuaded. For example, "The team leader was surprisingly "receptive" to the proposed changes" or "The new software is "adaptable" to various operating systems.

What are some synonyms for "amenable"?

Synonyms for "amenable" include "receptive", "compliant", "agreeable", "tractable", and "responsive". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "amenable to" or "amenable with"?

The correct preposition to use with "amenable" is "to". Therefore, you should say "amenable to" something. For example, "He is "receptive to" new ideas" is correct, while "amenable with" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "amenable" and "susceptible"?

"Amenable" implies a willingness to be persuaded or influenced, generally in a positive way. "Susceptible", on the other hand, suggests a vulnerability or tendency to be affected by something, which can be neutral or negative. Someone "open to suggestion" is amenable, while someone "prone to" catching a cold is susceptible.