exposed

adjective

ex·​posed ik-ˈspōzd How to pronounce exposed (audio)
1
: open to view
2
: not shielded or protected
also : not insulated
an exposed electric wire
Choose the Right Synonym for exposed

liable, open, exposed, subject, prone, susceptible, sensitive 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

open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

Examples of exposed in a Sentence

without our immune systems we'd be exposed to all sorts of deadly infections the exposed electrical wires were a safety hazard
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Our cities now sit exposed, taking direct hits from stronger hurricanes with increasing frequency. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 Researchers believe the exposed bucket contained sensitive information about buyers, including their full names, home addresses, phone numbers and order details such as mailing dates and parcel information. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025 One of our first dates was a three-pitch climb on a very exposed face on Independence Pass—in the rain. Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 12 Feb. 2025 The story sounds like something right out of a horror movie: this fungus hacks the brain of its host, driving the normally shy spiders out of their lairs and webs to an exposed surface. Michael Irving, New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exposed

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exposed was circa 1623

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Cite this Entry

“Exposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exposed. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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