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

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 Defense attorneys argued prosecutors lacked evidence that Kouri Richins was responsible for her husband's death, noting that Eric Richins suffered from pain and could have brought illicit drugs home after a recent trip to Mexico. —

N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 13 May 2026 Redirecting patients away from medications is only clinically responsible if the alternatives are accessible. —

Jonathan Slater, STAT, 13 May 2026 Such a world will be a place where humans will be responsible for their own actions. —

Keith Phipps, Vulture, 13 May 2026 But Blondie’s followers pointed out that this wasn’t her fault, noting that the onus is on residents to be responsible bear neighbors, sealing crawl spaces and trash cans to help prevent bears from developing a reliance on humans. —

Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for responsible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for responsible

Adjective

Employers who violate the WARN Act may be liable for back pay and benefits for the period of violation, up to 60 days.

— Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Both have vigorously argued they should not be held liable for the full amount and claimed the tragedy was beyond their control.

— Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 13 May 2026