susceptible

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

|Updated on: 20 Jun 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

But human children are also susceptible because of their smaller body mass.

— cleve r. wootson jr., chicagotribune.com, "Young Mississippi girl's sudden paralysis caused by a tick on her scalp," 12 June 2018
But human children are also susceptible because of their smaller body mass.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "A 5-year-old girl's sudden paralysis was a mystery. Then her mother checked her scalp.," 11 June 2018
But human children are also susceptible because of their smaller body mass.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "A 5-year-old girl’s sudden paralysis was a mystery. Then her mother checked her scalp.," 11 June 2018
Wikipedia may be the world's most successful attempt at crowdsourcing knowledge, but its pages are also susceptible to abuse, mischaracterization, and arbitrary changes.

— issie lapowsky, WIRED, "The Real Reason Google Search Labeled the California GOP as Nazis," 31 May 2018
Kingston is also susceptible to respiratory difficulties.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Siblings hope to find a family to share together," 12 May 2018
Some people are also simply more susceptible to vog than others, Tam says, adding that everything from the shape of an individual’s upper airway to his or her levels of congestion could influence reactions to vog.

— jamie ducharme, Time, "The Kilauea Eruption Has People Worried About Volcanic Smog. Here’s How Dangerous ‘Vog’ Really Is," 9 May 2018
David's twin Jack is also susceptible to the condition but has been cleared by a recent MRI.

— scott springer, Cincinnati.com, "16 strong seconds for David Moskowitz, Sycamore lacrosse," 9 May 2018
Men are also more susceptible to the widowhood effect than women.

— julia belluz, Vox, "George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized. Could his broken heart be to blame?," 24 Apr. 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

Examples of susceptible in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of susceptible

susceptible Synonyms

Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of susceptible

SUSCEPTIBLE Defined for English Language Learners

susceptible

Definition of susceptible for English Language Learners

SUSCEPTIBLE Defined for Kids

susceptible

Definition of susceptible for Students

Medical Dictionary

susceptible

medical Definition of susceptible

susceptible

medical Definition of susceptible

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