Definition of liabilitynext
1
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in debt
usually liabilities plural something (as money) which is owed your liabilities total about $200,000

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 That decision made clear to us that minimizing liability mattered more than accountability for an antisemitic act and examining how school leadership handled – and then mishandled – what occurred. Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026 That’s part of a larger effort to bring down the cost of living, which continues to rise and threatens to become a major liability for the White House and Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections. Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026 But the Court’s grant of imperial immunity eliminated any fear Trump might have had about criminal liability for the corrupt use of his powers. Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026 The stated goal of the tracks is to use some of the money generated by the machines to increase purses, which is a huge liability in California racing now. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liability
Noun
  • The Patriots have a clear kicking disadvantage in this one.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
  • In some ways, The Pitt’s breakout first season put it at a disadvantage going into the second.
    Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In high-stakes industries where regulatory oversight and fiduciary responsibility are most critical, this transparency is necessary for compliance, accountability, and trust.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Peyton Watson, who has excelled as Denver’s de facto second scoring option this month, shouldered heavy defensive responsibility as Doncic’s primary matchup.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Comparisons are being drawn to the 2021 winter storm Uri, which caused widespread power outages across Texas and resulted in over 200 fatalities due to prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures.
    Matt Randolph, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • You May Be Exposed to Heavy Metals Another concern is heavy metal exposure.
    Heidi Cope, Health, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • There is a high likelihood of 6 or more inches of snow across all of Maryland.
    Cutter Martin, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Specifically, the study reviewed records of over 130,000 adults who used melatonin for needs related to insomnia or sleep disturbances and found a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with heart failure leading to hospitalization.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Farmers were up to the task, because the value of their land was skyrocketing, and many bankers encouraged them to take on large amounts of debt to increase the size of their operations (a move that would come back to haunt them during the farm crisis of the 1980s).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The review will also examine ongoing litigation with the county over the city’s $18 million unpaid water debt and identify quick, cost-effective solutions for residents.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • While Benthaus was the first person with a significant physical handicap to fly in space, European Space Agency astronaut John McFall, who has a prosthetic leg, has been cleared for selection to a future flight to the International Space Station.
    William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
  • There were 13 handicap spaces spread around the auditoriums at Regal Falls.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Israel and Hamas have traded blame over the violations of the deal.
    Reuters, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
  • On the five-year anniversary this week, the White House launched a web page casting blame on Democrats, then-Vice President Mike Pence, and Capitol Police for the violence that transpired that day.
    Justin Papp, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Nearly 60% of training still focuses on vulnerabilities more than two years old, and 36% of exercises remain confined to foundational labs.
    James Hadley, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Pokorny said the recent criminal sports gambling investigations by the Justice Department have exposed vulnerabilities in the major sports leagues and risk damaging the sports' brands.
    Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Liability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liability. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.

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