RESPONSIBLE Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'responsible' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of responsible are accountable , amenable , answerable , and liable . While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust. // the bureau responsible for revenue collection

Q: When could 'accountable' be used to replace 'responsible'?

The words accountable and responsible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation. // elected officials are accountable to the voters

Q: How do 'amenable' and 'liable' relate to one another, in the sense of 'responsible'?

Both amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions. // laws are amenable to judicial review // not liable for the debts of the former spouse

Q: When is it sensible to use 'answerable' instead of 'responsible'?

The synonyms answerable and responsible are sometimes interchangeable, but answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance. // an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

responsible

adjective

ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl

Definition of responsible next

as in liable

being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so the state laws hold pet owners responsible for any damage or injury done by improperly restrained animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in reliable

worthy of one's trust our regular babysitter is very responsible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Try This Instead

For

Try This

a responsible adult

a dependable adult

a reliable adult

a trustworthy adult

a conscientious adult

an accountable adult

responsible decisions

careful decisions

mature decisions

appropriate decisions

thoughtful decisions

proactive decisions

a responsible government

a capable government

a competent government

a vigilant government

a prudent government

a resourceful government

responsible behavior

reliable behavior

righteous behavior

dependable behavior

mature behavior

accountable behavior

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective responsible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of responsible are accountable, amenable, answerable, and liable. While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

When could accountable be used to replace responsible?

The words accountable and responsible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation.

elected officials are accountable to the voters

How do amenable and liable relate to one another, in the sense of responsible?

Both amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions.

laws are amenable to judicial review

not liable for the debts of the former spouse

When is it sensible to use answerable instead of responsible?

The synonyms answerable and responsible are sometimes interchangeable, but answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance.

an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

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 responsible At a rally Monday outside the Social Security Administration’s Maryland headquarters, lawmakers and advocates warned that the federal agency responsible for benefits for 72.5 million Americans could be among DOGE’s next targets. —

Lorie Konish, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025 The tech titan and his company have been critical of the office, which is responsible for licensing commercial rocket launches and ensuring public safety around them. —

Heather Vogell, ProPublica, 11 Feb. 2025 The highly contagious virus was responsible for the deaths of more than 40 million egg-laying birds last year and has been a contributing factor to the soaring price of eggs across the country, as the USDA requires the culling of entire flocks to stop the spread if the virus is detected. —

Rebekah Riess, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025 Notably, foreign companies aren't responsible for paying the duties. —

Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for responsible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for responsible

Adjective

If found liable, SCE could be responsible for billions of dollars in damages, directly impacting homeowners and the future reliability of their power supply.

— Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
That law states that contractors that make false claims to the government could be liable for three times the government’s damages.

— gqlshare, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2025