answerability 1 of 2

as in accountability
willingness or obligation to explain one's actions or to admit being the cause of a problem Without any answerability to the people, the despot's actions were motivated by a desire for personal enrichment.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

1
as in responsible
being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so you are answerable for your own conduct at all times

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2

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How does the adjective answerable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of answerable are accountable, amenable, liable, and responsible. While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," 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

Where would accountable be a reasonable alternative to answerable?

The synonyms accountable and answerable are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 answerable?

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 can responsible be used instead of answerable?

The meanings of responsible and answerable largely overlap; however, responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

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 answerability
Adjective
The question is answered and unanswered and answerable and unanswerable. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2025 Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon might all have been answerable to those charges, and that’s just limiting ourselves to the 20th century. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 7 Feb. 2025 Independent agencies cannot be both neutral and fair enforcers of the law and simultaneously only answerable to the president, Malloy said. Carrie Johnson, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025 Critics respond that their independent status undermines democratic principles, effectively creating a fourth branch of government that is answerable to no one. James Broughel, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for answerability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for answerability
Noun
  • Respect, transparency and accountability should all walk in lockstep.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 June 2025
  • So far, Tesla has evaded Department of Justice investigations and accountability for the deaths caused by the self-driving car, not to mention the concerns of waste, fraud, and abuse made possible by the EV tax credit and government subsidies.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • In water, these compounds are responsible for the musty, moldy taste that indicates that water isn’t safe to drink.
    Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
  • On an expiring contract, Detroit would only be responsible for the remainder of the $8 million he's owed this season.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • Carter will assume responsibility for all of ITV Studios’ unscripted business in the UK, which houses 11 labels.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025
  • Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • However, the absence of formal requirements means that the owner of the sole proprietorship can be personally liable for the business’s debts and obligations, including tax bills and legal awards.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The jury found the county, Spitzer and Nelson liable for $3 million in damages, including $1.5 million for past emotional distress.
    Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • The big picture: the Chinese government’s release made clear that the recent phone conversation between President Trump and President Xi Jinping was critical in making a deal feasible.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
  • If replacing cabinetry isn’t feasible, especially for renters, start by adjusting your lighting.
    Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • Other sources of soluble fiber include citrus, broccoli, peas, carrots, cucumbers, and celery.
    Lauren O'Connor, Health, 3 June 2025
  • Some whole-berry cranberry supplements may offer modest benefits, but most lack the concentrated levels of the right active compounds—specifically 100% soluble proanthocyanidins (PACs)—needed for meaningful protection.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Jason Ritter plays Julian’s scenes in this episode with raw emotion, making the character’s choices more explicable, if not entirely forgivable.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
  • An extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws, and is therefore attributed to a divine agency?
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Traditional startups often begin with a market gap, but AI ventures require a deeper layer of validation: Is the problem solvable with AI?
    Rohit Anabheri, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
  • The lack of hitting at left field and at catcher should be solvable.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Answerability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/answerability. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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