Synonyms of responsibility

responsibility

noun

ri-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

1

as in blame

the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right

responsibility for the accident lies with the driver who was speeding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blame
• liability
• accountability
• fault
• answerability

2

as in obligation

something one must do because of prior agreement

I had the responsibility of closing up the shop at night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obligation
• duty
• need
• burden
• commitment
• promise
• vow
• office
• requirement
• imperative
• pledge
• constraint
• charge
• do
• pact
• payment
• oath
• devoir
• must
• incumbency
• contract
• arrangement
• trust
• debt
• word
• compulsion
• setup
• tribute
• covenant
• restraint
• compact
• reservation
• coercion
• prearrangement
• force
• onus
• engagement
• duress
• appointment
• troth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relief
• grace
• discharge
• exemption
• waiver
• ease
• stay
• release
• choice
• postponement
• selection
• option
• alternative
• preference
• loophole
• pick

3

as in reliability

worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence

the newspaper publisher should hire kids of greater responsibility to deliver its papers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reliability
• reliableness
• dependability
• trustworthiness
• credibility
• solidity
• dependableness
• solidness
• trustability
• sureness
• infallibility
• inerrancy
• creditability
• creditableness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unreliability
• dodginess
• shakiness
• dubiousness
• questionableness
• doubtfulness
• uncertainness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of responsibility

Like Bill Gates and MacKenzie Scott today, Rosenwald realized that people who command great wealth have corresponding responsibilities to help others. — Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Baker said enforcement is part of the city's responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy community, particularly when food is involved. — Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

This is also the first film for which Vaz has ceded editing responsibilities. — Dylan Adamson, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

With women increasingly prevented from working, more of the responsibility for supporting families falls on men and boys. — Fatima Faizi, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026