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 In September 2026 the court ruled that some of his defamation claims may proceed, without deciding yet whether Google was liable. — Kaitlin Newkirk, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 Hill, who has played for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, was found liable for two counts of battery — one stemming from an incident in January 2024, and another from April 2025. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Unusually, adult children can (in rare cases) be liable to pay for parents’ care if the parents run out of money. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 11 Oct. 2026 Seydoux plays Lucy, an experimental pianist who moves with her beloved but panic attack-liable husband Philip (Laurence Rupp) and young son to a rural farmhouse in Bavaria. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for liable

Adjective

Although generally hardy, the plant is susceptible to certain diseases, including anthracnose and bacterial soft rot, as well as pests such as spider mites, caterpillars, and whiteflies.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
But neither the agency nor industry players have banned bets that could be susceptible to manipulation or raised the minimum age to bet on prediction markets to 21, the source said, up from the current minimum of 18.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of susceptible

Adjective

Under that unique arrangement between the league, team and venue, the Jaguars are responsible for game day staffing, vendors, operations, ticketing, concessions and more.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Four men — including a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power employee — were responsible for more than $170,000 in damage to downtown buildings during a yearlong graffiti spree, prosecutors alleged Thursday.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of responsible

Adjective

The end result would be a gassy surface shining as brightly as a more exposed black hole but with the Balmer break and smooth red hump of a 5,000-kelvin star, de Graaff and Naidu theorized.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
Morgan Stanley said Equinix and Digital Realty are less exposed because their facilities average roughly 5 to 10 megawatts, far below the gigawatt-scale AI campuses planned by hyperscalers and neocloud operators.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of exposed

Adjective

The intersection of Route 229 and Pine Street/Mountain Road has been flagged as the city’s single most crash-prone crossing.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
He’s steeped in these platforms, professionally invested, and not prone to conspiratorial concerns about insider trading or game fixing.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of prone

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

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