Pliable, a.
Etymology: [F., fr. plier to bend, to fold. See Ply, v.]
1. Capable of being plied, turned, or bent; easy to be bent; flexible; pliant; supple; limber; yielding; as, willow is a pliable plant.
2. Flexible in disposition; readily yielding to influence, arguments, persuasion, or discipline; easy to be persuaded; -- sometimes in a bad sense; as, a pliable youth. "Pliable she promised to be." Dr. H. More. -- Pli"a*ble*ness, n. -- Pli"a*bly, adv.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for pliable; he lists it under docile.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.