Flexible describes something that can bend, stretch, or be changed easily without breaking. It can talk about both physical objects and people’s attitudes or schedules.
“Flexible” comes from Latin “flexibilis,” meaning “that can be bent,” from “flectere,” to bend. It entered English through French and kept both the physical and figurative meanings.
When we call a person flexible, we’re quietly comparing their mind to a bendable material. Rigid people, like rigid materials, might seem strong—until pressure makes them crack.
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