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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in reliable

worthy of one's trust our regular babysitter is very responsible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 Season 1 ends with Sugar vowing to track down Henry (Jason Butler Harner), a fellow blue guy who may be responsible for their entire race getting chased off Earth and for the disappearance of Sugar’s sister, Djen (Mireille Enos). — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 DraftKings, for example, is likely far more reliant on market maker revenue at this stage, with its profitable affiliate responsible for a greater percentage of its total prediction market earnings. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The most important factor for smart hula hoop comfort is the pads responsible for holding the hoop in place. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Afrikaners were responsible for creating the nation’s infamous and brutal racially segregated apartheid system. — Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for responsible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for responsible

Adjective

Simpson was subsequently found liable in a civil case where the burden of proof was lower.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 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

Definition of liable

Adjective

Demand planning capabilities on the Blue Yonder Platform utilize patented algorithms and advanced machine learning models to ensure that demand forecasting is not only highly accurate, but reliable.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
Later reports would place the bear’s weight as high as 600 pounds, but the most reliable estimates were less than 250.

— Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of reliable

Adjective

Fernandes says the north side of the park is much better than the south side because his team is working section by section to bring change, noting that a safe park is critical to the well-being of the people who live in the area.

— Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Willingham said Wednesday that city governments have a responsibility to make sure information collected about their residents is kept safe, especially since Flock contracts are paid for with public funds.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of safe

Adjective

But regardless of any lack of confidence in Hamas’ true intentions, in Mladenov’s faith in the ability to verify weapons decommissioning, or indeed Netanyahu’s own willingness to order any troop withdrawals, why poke Trump so publicly in the eye?

— Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
This problem-first strategy is crucial for unlocking AI's true potential.

— Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of true

Adjective

For the mostly Hispanic agriculture and food processing workers, the data center boom hasn’t been all good.

— Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Villa’s recent warm-up defeat to Bayern Munich, though a 2-1 loss, will have offered a useful gauge of what facing elite opposition demands and should stand them in good stead for the level of intensity this game in Salzburg will require.

— Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of good

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

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