docile
gb/dˈɑsəl/ us/dˈɑsəl/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
easy to control or obeying
easy to control; willing to do what you are told
Usage pattern:
[someone/animal] is docile
Common mistake:
Do not use docile to mean “quiet/shy” in general; it specifically suggests being easy to control or obedient.
Synonyms
obedient (focuses on following rules or orders.)
|
compliant (often suggests yielding to authority or pressure.)
|
tractable (more formal; emphasizes being easy to manage or influence.)
Antonyms
defiant (actively resists control or authority.)
|
rebellious (regularly refuses to obey rules or authority.)
|
unruly (hard to control, especially in a group.)
Collocations
a docile child
|a docile student
|a docile workforce
|docile behavior
|docile and obedient
|naturally docile
|remain docile
|become docile
|seem docile
|surprisingly docile
Themes
behavior
|people
|animals
Examples
- The trainer looked for a dog that was calm and docile around strangers.
- As a child, he was quiet and docile, rarely arguing with adults.
- The regime wanted citizens who were docile and easy to control.
Learner examples
- The horse is docile.
- She is docile and follows instructions.
adjective
B2
property
2
gentle and not aggressive
gentle and calm; not aggressive
Usage pattern:
[animal] is docile
Common mistake:
Docile does not mean “weak” or “sick”; it describes temperament/behavior.
Synonyms
gentle (emphasizes kindness and soft behavior.)
|
tame (emphasizes being accustomed to humans and not wild.)
|
placid (suggests a steady calmness, often about animals or water.)
Antonyms
aggressive (ready to attack or act violently.)
|
ferocious (extremely aggressive and dangerous.)
Collocations
a docile breed
|docile temperament
|docile by nature
|generally docile
|a docile animal
|docile pets
|docile during handling
|small and docile
|docile in captivity
|docile around children
Themes
animals
|behavior
Examples
- Despite its size, the breed is known for being docile and gentle.
- The snake was surprisingly docile when the handler picked it up.
- Most of the animals here are docile, but you should still be careful.
Learner examples
- This dog is very docile.
- The cat is docile with children.
adjective
C1
property
3
easy to teach or train
easy to teach or train
Usage pattern:
[someone/animal] is docile and [easy to train/teach]
Common mistake:
Docile can imply passivity; for a positive ‘eager to learn’ meaning, words like attentive or motivated may fit better.
Synonyms
teachable (focuses on being able and willing to learn.)
|
trainable (focuses on responding well to training.)
|
manageable (emphasizes ease of handling rather than learning.)
Antonyms
uncooperative (refuses to work with instruction or guidance.)
|
headstrong (insists on doing things their own way.)
Collocations
docile and trainable
|docile learners
|docile apprentices
|docile students
|a docile pupil
|more docile
|easily docile
|docile under instruction
|docile in training
|docile in the classroom
Themes
education
|work
|behavior
Examples
- They wanted new hires who were docile and easy to train on the process.
- The instructor found her class unusually docile, with few interruptions.
- Some dogs are more docile and respond faster to basic commands.
Learner examples
- He is docile and easy to train.
Grammar
Dictionary form
docile
IPA
GB/dˈɑsəl/
US/dˈɑsəl/
Syllables & stress
do - cile (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (do)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: docile
Word family
Core family
docility
noun
Related words
docilely
adverb C1
Expressions
as docile as a lamb
1/ˈæz dˈɑsəl ˈæz ə lˈæm/
fixed phrase
very gentle and obedient
very gentle and easy to control
Examples
- At the vet, the usually nervous dog was as docile as a lamb.
- Once he realized he was safe, he became as docile as a lamb.
- She expected a struggle, but the child was as docile as a lamb.