Novel magnetorheological elastomer compositions are provided. The magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) may have aligned or randomly arranged magnetizable particles in a thermoset or thermoplastic matrix. The magnetizable particles may be coated to reduce corrosion and/or improve bonding between the particle and the matrix. The magnetizable particles may be flake-shaped. The MREs may have matrices selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated nitrile rubbers, butyl rubbers, ethylene-propylene copolymers and terpolymers, ethylene-acrylic copolymers, fluorinated elastomers, silphenylene-siloxanes, silarylene-siloxanes, poly(carborane-siloxane-acetylene)s and blends thereof. The MREs may also have matrices selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene block copolymers, copolyesters, polyamides, polyether block amides, polyolefin-elastomers other than polyalpha olefins, chlorinated polyethylenes, ionomers, chlorosulfonated polyethylenes, blends thereof, and blends of thermoplastic polyurethane with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylindene fluoride (PVDF), polycarbonate, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).