liable

adjective

ˈlī-ə-bəl How to pronounce liable (audio)
Definition of liablenext
1
as in susceptible
being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm because of his frail constitution, he's liable to diseases

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in responsible
being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so the owner of a pet is liable for any damage that that pet might do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective liable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of liable are exposed, open, prone, sensitive, subject, and susceptible. While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

When is it sensible to use exposed instead of liable?

The words exposed and liable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

In what contexts can open take the place of liable?

While the synonyms open and liable are close in meaning, open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

When might prone be a better fit than liable?

The meanings of prone and liable largely overlap; however, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

When would sensitive be a good substitute for liable?

While in some cases nearly identical to liable, sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

When is subject a more appropriate choice than liable?

In some situations, the words subject and liable are roughly equivalent. However, subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

When could susceptible be used to replace liable?

The synonyms susceptible and liable are sometimes interchangeable, but susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of liable The company sought a declaratory judgment asserting that the defendants should be held liable for reimbursing any claims paid out to CAHA related to the matter. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2025 The developer also will be liable for $2 million in attorney’s fees incurred by the state and environmental groups. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025 Urlacher was a suspect in the 1976 disappearance of a 14-year-old girl from a concert in Huntley and, while never charged, he was found liable in a civil trial for the teen’s death in 1981 and ordered to pay her family $5.15 million, according to a wire service report at the time. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025 Trump last year filed a defamation suit against ABC News after anchor George Stephanopoulos inaccurately said on-air that Trump had been found civilly liable for raping the writer E. Jean Carroll. —Alex Isenstadt, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for liable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liable
  1. susceptible
  2. responsible
  3. vulnerable
  4. sensitive
  5. exposed
  6. prone
Adjective
  • In recent years, the number of satellite launches has increased, resulting in thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit that are susceptible to cyberattacks.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Tomato, pepper, eggplant and tomatillo are all susceptible to the same suite of soil pathogens.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of susceptible
Adjective
  • Risk Factors Atherosclerosis is responsible for the vast majority of cases of renal artery stenosis.
    — Anju Goel, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The maps detail fire hazard levels across Southern California for areas where city and county fire departments are responsible for responding to incidents, the first new maps of their kind in 14 years.
    — Christian Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of responsible
Adjective
  • But changes wouldn't guarantee that the most vulnerable patients would be spared from future insurance denials or the complex appeals process set up by insurers.
    — Lauren Sausser, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025
  • For the lead plaintiffs in the investors' suit, the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, the scheme allegedly robbed retirees of gains used to sustain their quality of life at a particularly vulnerable time.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of vulnerable
Adjective
  • The rise in interest rates and inflation could dampen the growth prospects of shale oil producers, particularly smaller companies that are highly sensitive to borrowing costs.
    — Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The skin is very sensitive to the hormonal changes taking place during puberty.
    — Cordelia Nwankwo, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • And, while the ball was mid-air, Zwolle’s attackers were to sprint to the penalty area to meet it on the way down and, ideally, stick it past an exposed goalkeeper.
    — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The ceiling appears damaged, with exposed beams, and the windows are now boarded up with plywood.
    — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of exposed
Adjective
  • Are people who are prone to ideology taking in less information?
    — Matt Richtel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Werewolf cats are also prone to some health conditions, including lymphocytic mural folliculitis.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of prone

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liability
liable
liaison
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Cite this Entry

“Liable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liable. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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