| amenable, | manageable, | pliant, | teachable, |
| compliant, | obedient, | submissive, | tractable, |
| gentle, | pliable, | tame, | yielding. |
One who is docile is easily taught; one who is tractable is easily led; one who is pliant is easily bent in any direction; compliant represents one as inclined or persuaded to agreement with another's will. Compare [DUTY].
Antonyms:
| determined, | firm, | intractable, | opinionated, | self-willed, | wilful, |
| dogged, | inflexible, | obstinate, | resolute, | stubborn, | unyielding. |
DOCTRINE.
Synonyms:
| article of belief, | belief, | precept, | teaching, |
| article of faith, | dogma, | principle, | tenet. |
Doctrine primarily signifies that which is taught; principle, the fundamental basis on which the teaching rests. A doctrine is reasoned out, and may be defended by reasoning; a dogma rests on authority, as of direct revelation, the decision of the church, etc. A doctrine or dogma is a statement of some one item of belief; a creed is a summary of doctrines or dogmas. Dogma has[137] commonly, at the present day, an offensive signification, as of a belief arrogantly asserted. Tenet is simply that which is held, and is applied to a single item of belief; it is a neutral word, neither approving nor condemning; we speak of the doctrines of our own church; of the tenets of others. A precept relates not to belief, but to conduct. Compare [FAITH]; [LAW].