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

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

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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 Even if the property is held in an LLC, the property manager will be personally liable for their personal negligence. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The latest ruling comes just months after a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for negligence in a landmark social media addiction case. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026 Measures that would affect Meta’s algorithm would probably violate the 1st Amendment and Section 230, which protects platforms for being legally liable for content posted by its users. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 Biedscheid rejected that defense, finding the state was challenging Meta's platform features rather than trying to hold the company liable as publisher of third-party content. — Andrew Hay, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for liable

Adjective

In fact there are a number of herbs, vitamins, and prescription medications that can make your skin especially susceptible to sunburn, including some SSRIs, hypertension medications, and cholesterol-lowering medications.

— Diana Helmuth, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of susceptible

Adjective

The weapons dealers responsible for the cacophony on the lakefront of thundering jets have been gifted in the billions of tax dollars for the research and development of these weapons of mass destruction.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Samples collected at the farms tested positive for salmonella, and genetic sequencing found that some matched the strain responsible for the outbreak, according to the FDA.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of responsible

Adjective

The composite score of cumulative impacts reflects communities in Chicago that are most burdened by pollution and most vulnerable to its effects.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Damage to civilian infrastructure, including electricity, water and gas systems, could once again leave millions vulnerable during the harsh winter months, raising fears of a repeat of last winter’s severe conditions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of vulnerable

Adjective

Batteries can store electricity, but extreme cold can threaten sensitive electronics and other critical hardware.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
There are several hundred stars that closely orbit this giant black hole and are sensitive to its gravity.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of sensitive

Adjective

The garage flooded first, followed by two back rooms closest to the field out back that’s prone to flooding.

— Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2026
The planes, for example, will cool their heels in the desert of Arizona, where the weather is more hospitable to their corrosion-prone bodies.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of prone

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“Liable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liable. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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