ANSWERABILITIES Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'answerable' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of answerable are accountable , amenable , liable , and responsible . While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," 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

Q: Where would 'accountable' be a reasonable alternative to 'answerable'?

The synonyms accountable and answerable are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 'answerable'?

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 can 'responsible' be used instead of 'answerable'?

The meanings of responsible and answerable largely overlap; however, responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust. // the bureau responsible for revenue collection

answerability 1 of 2

noun

Definition of answerability

as in accountability

willingness or obligation to explain one's actions or to admit being the cause of a problem Without any answerability to the people, the despot's actions were motivated by a desire for personal enrichment.

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Dissimilar Words

unaccountability

answerable

2 of 2

adjective

ˈan(t)-s(ə-)rə-bəl

as in responsible

being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so you are answerable for your own conduct at all times

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in resolvable

capable of having the reason for or cause of determined they say this equation is not answerable

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective answerable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of answerable are accountable, amenable, liable, and responsible. While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," 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

Where would accountable be a reasonable alternative to answerable?

The synonyms accountable and answerable are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 answerable?

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 can responsible be used instead of answerable?

The meanings of responsible and answerable largely overlap; however, responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

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 answerability

Adjective

In these essays, our columnists follow their curiosity, and explore important but not necessarily answerable scientific questions. — Quanta Magazine, 13 July 2026 By making the commissioner answerable to the governor, the piece suggests voters will have a clearer figure to hold responsible if schools fail to improve. — Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 Our lame-duck governor is happily corrupt and no longer answerable to Floridians. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026 And being accountable means owning every vote, every decision, and being answerable to the people, not a political party. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for answerability

Recent Examples of Synonyms for answerability

Noun

Some might think introducing another layer of accountability would stifle innovation.

— Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
But Craig Holman, a lobbyist with the government accountability nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen, told the AP that Marshall’s actions raised ethical red flags.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of accountability

Noun

No perpetrators have been publicly identified, and no claims of responsibility have been made public.

— JOHN LEICESTER, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
The carrier is expected to hold NATO command ship responsibilities until mid-2027, positioning it to lead a multinational naval force if activated during an international crisis.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of responsibility

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answer

answerability

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“Answerability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/answerability. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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