semiflexible

4.6

Able to bend a little but not completely

adjective
/ˌsɛmɪˈflɛksəbl/

: semiflexible

When creating the model, we used a semiflexible material that allowed us to shape it easily.

Examples

Semiflexible polymers

Academic text (2005)
Despite the range of stiffness, biopolymers are all what rheologists call semiflexible.

Academic text (2005)
The new chair design features a semiflexible backrest that adjusts to support your spine.
The artist chose semiflexible wires for her sculpture to give it a unique, organic look.

Synonyms

flexible

vssemiflexible

31 3.4

Able to bend easily without breaking and return to shape

allows some return to form but less easily and not fully

supple

vssemiflexible

18 3.7

Able to bend or move easily and smoothly

is only partly smooth in movement and less graceful when moved

pliable

vssemiflexible

8 4.2

Easy to bend or shape

is only partly adaptable and cannot change as easily

pliant

vssemiflexible

3 5.6

Easily bent or shaped without breaking

is less moldable and only allows limited bending or shaping

bendy

vssemiflexible

2 2.5

Easy to move into new shapes

is less movable and only changes shape to a limited degree

bendable

vssemiflexible

1 3.0

Can curve without breaking

is only partly able to change form rather than changing easily

deformable

vssemiflexible

Specialized

1 5.3

Able to be bent or shaped without breaking

is narrower, meaning only limited ability to change shape

semiflex

vssemiflexible

6.4

Able to bend a little but not completely

has identical meaning but differs in word form

semirigid

vssemiflexible

7.2

Partly stiff but still a little flexible

allows more change in shape rather than stressing partial firmness

stiffish

vssemiflexible

4.9

A little hard to bend or move

permits some shape change rather than tending toward firmness

flexile

vssemiflexible

8.1

Easy to bend without breaking, like a thin branch

is only partly able to accept movement without fully resisting damage

twistable

vssemiflexible

3.4

Can bend or turn without breaking

allows some rotation but is not fully able to turn freely

Antonyms

rigid

35 4.0

Does not bend because it is stiff

inflexible

1 4.9

Not able to bend or change shape

How Flexible

supple

18 3.7

flexible

31 3.4

semiflexible

4.6

rigid

35 4.0

Surface Forms

semiflexible positive

Morphology

semiflexible = flexible (transparent) = semi + flex + ible

The word is a regular prefixation of 'semi-' to 'flexible', with the meaning 'partly flexible' directly composed from its parts.

Etymology

Semiflexible comes from semi- meaning 'partly' and flexible, where flex means 'to bend'. So semiflexible describes something that can bend or change shape a little but not completely.