liability

noun

ˌlī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce liability (audio)
Definition of liabilitynext
1
as in disadvantage
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success though his small size is a liability as a football player, he makes up for it with speed

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2
as in responsibility
the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right the liability for the accident is held by the person who was driving too fast

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3
as in exposure
the state of being left without shelter or protection against something harmful failure to properly clean the wound could increase your liability to infection

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4
as in likelihood
the quality or state of being likely to occur what's the liability that he'll file a formal complaint if he's refused admission?

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5
as in debt
usually liabilities plural something (as money) which is owed your liabilities total about $200,000

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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 liability Public records viewed through PropertyShark show the seller was a California limited liability company managed by builder Mark Panasuk. — Sandra Barrera, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 As horrendous as California’s wildfires may be, the conventional rules of imposing liability and spreading the cost just doesn’t work when utilities are state-regulated and state-protected. — Dan Walters, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2026 Just the deliveryman or shouldn’t there be some liability to be shared by the company or restaurant that hired him? — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 The new company was also forced to assume all of Old DuPont’s historical PFAS liabilities and sign an agreement to indemnify Old DuPont against them. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liability
  1. disadvantage
  2. responsibility
  3. exposure
  4. likelihood
  5. debt
  6. handicap
  7. blame
  8. vulnerability
Noun
  • Power, an unequal outcome, and a disadvantage the weaker side can’t escape, all in one transaction.
    — ESMT Berlin, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Compared to their American counterparts, Chinese AI companies are at a massive disadvantage in computing power, a gap that has grown substantially since ChatGPT’s release.
    — Garrison Lovely, Time, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of disadvantage
Noun
  • The Gemini Moon moves through your 6th House of Work and Wellness and sextiles Saturn in your 4th House of Home, helping routines, chores, and household responsibilities click into place.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Blending intimate drama with urgent political relevance, the film explores generational conflict, responsibility and the search for meaningful action in times of crisis.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • As conversations around healthy aging increasingly shift from simply living longer to maintaining mobility, cognitive health, and quality of life, environmental exposures are becoming another part of that picture.
    — Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Clinicians receive regular alerts of local measle exposure sites.
    — Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of exposure
Noun
  • And less likelihood Hollywood creatives will be able to negotiate a better deal.
    — Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Age is an important factor in the likelihood of future success, and freezing eggs does not guarantee a pregnancy.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of likelihood
Noun
  • The pay is so high that landing an entry-level analyst position at an investment bank feels like a golden ticket, especially for a first-generation student, a student from a low-income background, or a student with any student loan debt.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • That’s after excluding wealth from the top 1% of households, subtracting debts and other liabilities, as well as deducting retirement spending, charitable donations, taxes and fees.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of debt
Noun
  • Nick Jackson was still on the floor as this devolved into a handicap match.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • For amenities like restrooms, a handicap accessible walkover, ample parking, and a lifeguard on duty, consider the Santa Clara Regional beach access.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Definition of handicap
Noun
  • Ashley Christopher, an attorney and Howard alumna whose son is a sophomore there, thinks Howard shoulders some blame.
    — Matt Brown, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • As Democrats and Republicans point the finger of blame at each other, even resorting to childish name calling, Americans are put in the uncomfortable position of trying to figure out who’s being truthful and who is lying.
    — Mike Patton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of blame
Noun
  • The film’s Tony contains glimpses of the real Bourdain’s eventual swagger and charisma, but focuses more on his vulnerability.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • But instead, the assistant went further and found a vulnerability in the gym’s software, using it to secure spots months further in advance than the booking system was meant to allow.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of vulnerability

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Cite this Entry

“Liability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liability. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on liability

Nglish: Translation of liability for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about liability

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