susceptible

adjective sus·cep·ti·ble \ sə-ˈsep-tə-bəl \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

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Examples: susceptible in a Sentence

Definition of susceptible

1 : capable of submitting to an action, process, or operation

a theory susceptible to proof

2 : open, subject, or unresistant to some stimulus, influence, or agency

susceptible to pneumonia

3 : impressionable, responsive

a susceptible mind

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susceptibleness

noun

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susceptibly

play \sə-ˈsep-tə-blē\ adverb

See susceptible defined for English-language learners

See susceptible defined for kids

Examples of susceptible in a Sentence

Researchers at the University of South Carolina say that a chemical found abundantly in red wine, apples and onions helps protect against influenza, especially after a rigorous respiratory workout, when the body is more susceptible to infection. —Kim Marcus et al., Wine Spectator, 31 May 2009
Women were especially susceptible to his … charm, and he maintained dozens of relationships simultaneously. When he was finally being tried for his crimes, 20 women sat together in the courthouse's public galleries, weeping: mistresses, lovers and admirers, all convinced of Unterweger's innocence. —Robert MacFarlane, New York Times Book Review, 13 Jan. 2008
He grew up during the heyday of the Hegelian philosophy, which sought to explain all things in terms of historical development, but conceived this process as being ultimately not susceptible to the methods of empirical investigation. —Isaiah Berlin, The Hedgehog and the Fox, (1953) 1978
The virus can infect susceptible individuals.
some people are more susceptible to depression during the winter because of reduced exposure to sunlight

Recent Examples of susceptible from the Web

Experts say Orlando’s tourist and transient population makes the region susceptible to traffickers, who often prey on poor and drug-addicted women and children.

— stephen hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orange County's crisis shelter for human-trafficking victims is full — and that may be a good thing," 12 July 2018
Are particular body locations more susceptible to tumor development?

— jessica alice farrell, Smithsonian, "Should We Share Human Cancer Treatments With Tumorous Turtles?," 11 July 2018
One study, published in the U.S. journal Environmental Health Perspectives, showed that even small amounts of the chemicals made the algae in coral susceptible to viral infection.

— peter fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Hawaii to ban sunscreen that damages coral," 7 July 2018
At that point, the coral loses a key source of food and becomes more susceptible to deadly diseases.

— julia belluz, Vox, "Hawaii is banning sunscreens that kill coral reefs," 2 July 2018
Madison believed that a direct democracy would inevitably result in toxic polarization and leave citizens susceptible to authoritarian rule.

— taylor lorenz, The Atlantic, "James Madison Would Be Horrified by a Tweeting President," 25 June 2018
The elderly and those susceptible to heat stroke, which can be fatal, should try and stay inside or out of the sun.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "Brace yourself, Miami: Summer just started, and temperatures already feel over 100," 22 June 2018
Turning up the difficulty primarily decreases the chances of the computer opponents making unforced errors without making them any less predictable or susceptible to the same old strategies.

— kyle orland, Ars Technica, "Mario Tennis Aces review: Turning tennis into a fighting game," 22 June 2018
But if the pass rush doesn’t get home, these same corners become susceptible to double moves and late breakdowns in technique.

— andy benoit, SI.com, "Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters: How a Pair of High-End Corners Could Give the Rams the Edge," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'susceptible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of susceptible

Late Latin susceptibilis, from Latin susceptus, past participle of suscipere to take up, admit, from sub-, sus- up + capere to take — more at sub-, heave

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1605

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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susceptible Synonyms

Phrases

in the lurch;

Synonym Discussion of susceptible

liable, open, exposed, subject, prone, susceptible, sensitive 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

open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

- a claim open to question

exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

- exposed to infection

subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

- all reports are subject to review

prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

- prone to delay

susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

- very susceptible to flattery

sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

- unduly sensitive to criticism

SUSCEPTIBLE Defined for English Language Learners

susceptible

adjective

Definition of susceptible for English Language Learners

: easily affected, influenced, or harmed by something
: capable of being affected by a specified action or process

SUSCEPTIBLE Defined for Kids

susceptible

adjective sus·cep·ti·ble \ sə-ˈsep-tə-bəl \

Definition of susceptible for Students

1 : of such a nature as to permit

The words are susceptible of being misunderstood.

2 : having little resistance (as to infection or damage)

I am susceptible to colds.

3 : easily affected or impressed by

You're so susceptible to flattery.

Medical Dictionary

susceptible

adjective sus·cep·ti·ble \ sə-ˈsep-tə-bəl \

medical Definition of susceptible

1 : having little resistance to a specific infectious disease : capable of being infected

2 : predisposed to develop a noninfectious disease

susceptible to diabetes

3 : abnormally reactive to various drugs

susceptible

noun

medical Definition of susceptible

: one that is susceptible (as to a disease)

vaccinate all susceptibles in each region where outbreaks appeared
—A. J. Bollet

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susceptible

Definition of susceptible

susceptibleness

susceptibly

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susceptible Synonyms

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SUSCEPTIBLE Defined for English Language Learners

susceptible

Definition of susceptible for English Language Learners

SUSCEPTIBLE Defined for Kids

susceptible

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susceptible

medical Definition of susceptible

susceptible

medical Definition of susceptible

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