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
  • Those who are not vaccinated are susceptible to the disease, Calendar said.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Bigleaf hydrangeas are susceptible to moisture loss through their large leaves and may require extra irrigation during the heat of summer.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of susceptible
Adjective
  • With the launch of Apex, the former Slate leadership team has set a new board of managing partners, who will be responsible for long-term growth and day-to-day management.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The new board will be responsible for the day to day management of Apex and will be key in setting the company’s agenda for future and long term growth.
    — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of responsible
Adjective
  • Saving currently endangered species A number of experts say that bringing back extinct animals will not solve any conservation problems and that efforts would be better spent trying to find ways to save current critically endangered or vulnerable species.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • There are several factors behind what makes a region particularly sneezy and vulnerable to certain allergens.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of vulnerable
Adjective
  • In late March, four Taiwanese soldiers, three of whom were part of a unit that provides security for Taiwan’s Presidential Office, were jailed for up to seven years after being convicted of selling pictures of sensitive information to China.
    — Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Cooling, calming, and tailor-made for sensitive skin, this mask drapes delicately across your face to deliver a serious hit of cica (Centella asiatica) and allantoin—soothing redness and dryness in minutes.
    — Annie Blackman, Allure, 10 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

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 22 Apr. 2025.

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