LIABLE Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

liable

adjective

ˈlī-ə-bəl

Definition of liable next

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 According to the order, the law will be paused for 75 days and companies that work with TikTok will not be liable for doing so. —

Bobby Allyn, NPR, 20 Jan. 2025 Anyone Biden might preemptively pardon, who is targeted by the federal government, could run up hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees even if the courts ultimately determine that this individual is both immune from prosecution and not liable for any civil offense. —

Ian Millhiser, Vox, 20 Jan. 2025 Even off the campaign trail, Obama is liable to be impeccably dressed. —

Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2025 The town, which previously a population of 26,000, has struggled under high construction costs, expensive insurance premiums and the uncertainty over funds to be paid to people who lost homes by Pacific Gas & Electric, which was found liable for sparking the devastating blaze. —

Michael R. Blood, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for liable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for liable

Adjective

These include the software woes that kept the spacecraft from reaching the space station on the 2019 test flight and the use of valves in the ship's service module that were susceptible to corrosion.

— Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 4 Feb. 2025
Second, this settlement further highlights the importance of companies developing appropriate safeguards to safeguard consumers' data... even large companies, even one of the world's largest insurance brokerages, can be susceptible to data breaches.

— David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025