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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 Three senior Amazon executives were at risk of being held individually liable if the jury sided with the FTC. Annie Palmer, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025 The case went to trial this week, and a Los Angeles jury has now found that Metro Boomin is not liable on the four causes of action against him, according to Rolling Stone. Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 25 Sep. 2025 Wayne was found not liable on all four causes of action. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025 According to The Denver Post, the jury found the defendants named in the family's suit — Glenwood Caverns Holdings, the park’s parent company, and Soaring Eagle, which designed the ride — liable for $82 million in non-economic damages and $123 million in punitive damage to the Estifanos family. David Chiu, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for liable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liable
Adjective
  • Common Pests & Plant Diseases Camellias are susceptible to several fungal diseases, the most serious of which are flower blight, root rot, and camellia dieback and canker.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
  • This is the key reason why older adults are more susceptible to cancer and severe illness.
    Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Republican leadership of the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for this budget proposal, did not respond to an NPR request for comment on this partisan divide.
    Cory Turner, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Teams are responsible for booking their own flights Teams that are uncertain about which flight to book sometimes look to producers to follow their lead.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Security That Protects Your Data With Windows 10 reaching its end-of-life, unpatched systems will become more vulnerable to attacks.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Both sides were vulnerable on transition, making unforced errors and conceding needless free kicks.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Windows 11 Pro gives you BitLocker encryption, Smart App Control, and biometric login support to help safeguard sensitive information.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Phishing scams often use convincing logos and language to trick you into revealing sensitive information.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The eggs are the first fossils to be reliably dated from the Qinglongshan fossil reserve, which includes three sites containing more than 3,000 eggs, the majority of which are semi-exposed and preserved in 3D, with their original shapes largely intact.
    Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Homes with high flood risk sold for lower prices while buyers paid more for those that were less exposed.
    Bloomberg, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • When heavy rain occurs, there is a risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone regions.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
  • During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Liable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liable. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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