plastic

adjective

Definition of plasticnext
1
as in waxy
capable of being easily molded or modeled Silly Putty is famous for being very plastic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality there's usually a plastic cordiality at these corporate events

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective plastic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plastic are adaptable, ductile, malleable, pliable, and pliant. While all these words mean "susceptible of being modified in form or nature," plastic applies to substances soft enough to be molded yet capable of hardening into the desired fixed form.

plastic materials allow the sculptor greater freedom

In what contexts can adaptable take the place of plastic?

While in some cases nearly identical to plastic, adaptable implies the capability of being easily modified to suit other conditions, needs, or uses.

computer hardware that is adaptable

When can ductile be used instead of plastic?

The words ductile and plastic can be used in similar contexts, but ductile applies to what can be drawn out or extended with ease.

ductile metals such as copper

When is it sensible to use malleable instead of plastic?

Although the words malleable and plastic have much in common, malleable applies to what may be pressed or beaten into shape.

the malleable properties of gold

When would pliable be a good substitute for plastic?

The meanings of pliable and plastic largely overlap; however, pliable suggests something easily bent, folded, twisted, or manipulated.

pliable rubber tubing

When might pliant be a better fit than plastic?

The words pliant and plastic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pliant may stress flexibility and sometimes connote springiness.

an athletic shoe with a pliant sole

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plastic Inside the cozy cockpit, leather, burl wood, and side curtains with sliding plastic windows take the driver back many decades to a time when radios were an optional nuisance—all that mattered was the vehicle and the road. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 May 2025 Chard can be stored in the refrigerator for two or three days, wrapped in moistened paper towels and placed in an unsealed plastic bag. —Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025 Here were hundreds of people fighting in a pretend war, a hobby known as airsoft, with very real-looking guns that shoot plastic pellets. —Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 28 May 2025 Head coach Mike Vrabel addressed a video making the rounds after Memorial Day weekend of Diggs sharing a clear plastic bag containing an unknown substance with women on a boat. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for plastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plastic
  1. waxy
  2. mock
  3. strained
  4. adaptable
  5. fake
  6. malleable
  7. unnatural
  8. mechanical
Adjective
  • These small insects have a waxy, white, cottony appearance and can usually be found in clusters on the underside of leaves and in stem joints.
    — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
  • For all the waxy stories of tournament winners overcoming this or proving that, so many others out there are in the stench.
    — Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Definition of waxy
Adjective
  • Say it with mock certainty and a slight smile, Callahan advises, and pause before the punchline.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 21 May 2025
  • Two of them show up regularly in way-too-early 2026 mock drafts.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 May 2025
Definition of mock
Adjective
  • His strained, sandpaper-coarse timbre served as an ideal conduit for songs concerned with boisterous revelries, shady agreements, licentious intentions and musical pleasures.
    — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
  • During a father-son fishing trip alongside Dawson and his dad (John Wesley Shipp), Pacey's strained relationship with his parent bubbles up.
    — Jen Juneau, People.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of strained
Adjective
  • One smart way to sell qualifications is to communicate the willingness to be adaptable to innovations and tactical strategies.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Additionally, adaptable technology providers should offer scalability and customization, which allows brands to grow while leveraging increasingly sophisticated automation and analytics tools.
    — Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 21 May 2025
Definition of adaptable
Adjective
  • Later, it's revealed that Phelps didn't die at all, and his fake death was a setup to frame Ethan.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 24 May 2025
  • A little too fresh to offer much perspective except lots of on-screen deepfake screen time and lots of fake CNN cross-branding of apocalyptic footage of fire and death from a manageable distance.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • Photographers will appreciate just how malleable its 14-bit Raw photos are, and for landscapes, the 177MP multi-shot mode beats medium format digital for detail.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 27 May 2025
  • While that is still at the heart of the offering, live events lime NFL games on Christmas Day, as well as a slate of games, require a more malleable approach.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2025
Definition of malleable
Adjective
  • While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 May 2025
  • For her, the idea of being surrounded by people, especially while grieving, felt overwhelming and unnatural.
    — Ashley Vega, People.com, 1 May 2025
Definition of unnatural
Adjective
  • The pool’s mechanical room looks like the boiler room of an ocean liner — with giant tanks that purify pool water and another system that stabilizes the temperature.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • Replacement parts from companies such as Moss Motors are affordable, and anyone with basic mechanical skills can wrench on their own MG, adding a little skin—and a lot of satisfaction—into the game.
    — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 23 May 2025
Definition of mechanical

Browse Nearby Words

plasters
plastic
plasticity
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plastic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of plastic for Spanish Speakers

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