BharatNotes Malleable
adjectiveUsage in a UPSC answer
A robust democracy depends on institutions that are resilient rather than malleable, for once constitutional safeguards become malleable in the hands of a dominant executive, the rule of law quietly yields to the rule of expediency.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
malleability (n), malleably (adv), malleableness (n), mallet (n cognate)
Root
Latin malleus = hammer → malleāre = to hammer; Late Latin malleābilis; related to mallet, maul
Etymology
From Middle French malléable, from Late Latin malleābilis, from Latin malleāre (to hammer), from malleus (hammer); related to English mallet and maul.
Memory Hook
Think of a MALLET (a hammer) beating soft metal into shape - what the mallet can reshape is MALLEABLE. Both share the Latin root malleus, 'hammer'.
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