vulnerable

adjective

vul·​ner·​a·​ble ˈvəl-n(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˈvəl-nər-bəl

1

: capable of being easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally

The patient may be more vulnerable to infection immediately after surgery.

The lenses in children's eyes are clear and thus more vulnerable to light.

—Anna Webb

2

: open to attack, harm, or damage : assailable

vulnerable to criticism

The fort was undefended and vulnerable.

Your computer may be vulnerable to viruses.

3

: liable to increased penalties but entitled to increased bonuses after winning a game in contract bridge

vulnerability

ˌvəl-n(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

vulnerableness

ˈvəl-n(ə-)rə-bəl-nəs 

ˈvəl-nər-bəl-

noun

vulnerably

ˈvəl-n(ə-)rə-blē 

ˈvəl-nər-blē

adverb

Did you know?

The History of Vulnerable

Superheroes are often depicted in comic books and movies as all-powerful, deflecting boulders and missiles in mid-air with a flick of the wrist, walking through walls, and having indestructible skeletons and whatnot. Fans know, however, that even the mightiest, meatiest protagonist is vulnerable to something, be it kryptonite or forgetting the whereabouts of one’s hammer. Vulnerable ultimately comes from the Latin noun vulnus, meaning “wound,” by way of the Late Latin adjective vulnerabilis, which English speakers adopted as vulnerable in the early 1600s. Vulnerable continues to carry its original meaning of “capable of being physically wounded,” but since the late 1600s it has also been used figuratively to suggest a defenselessness against non-physical attacks. In other words, someone (or something) can be vulnerable to criticism or failure as well as to literal wounding—even superheroes. So don’t go breaking their hearts, even if you can’t break their bones.

Synonyms of vulnerable

• susceptible
• sensitive
• exposed
• prone

Examples of vulnerable in a Sentence

He was very vulnerable after his divorce.

The troops were in a vulnerable position.

The fort was undefended and vulnerable.

Recent Examples on the Web

For people out of work for a long time or lacking a long list of prior jobs—especially Gen Z, who may be particularly vulnerable to their jobs being automated—those benefits aren’t guaranteed. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026

Although many perennial herbs are hardy and often withstand freezing temperatures when mature, the seedlings are more vulnerable to the cold. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2026

Without such guardrails, the integrity of our elections remains vulnerable to foreign influences that voters cannot see or control. —Michael Gianaris, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026

Married couple Evan Bates and Madison Chock, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier and Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron train, compete and show their vulnerable sides in the high-stakes sports series from the same team that produced Simone Biles Rising. —Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin vulnerabilis, from Latin vulnerare to wound, from vulner-, vulnus wound; probably akin to Latin vellere to pluck, Greek oulē wound

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for vulnerable

• invulnerable

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Kids Definition

vulnerable

adjective

vul·​ner·​a·​ble ˈvəln-(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˈvəl-nər-bəl

1

: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded

2

: open to attack or damage

a vulnerable position

vulnerability

ˌvəln-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

vulnerable

adjective

vul·​ner·​a·​ble ˈvəln-(ə-)rə-bəl, ˈvəl-nər-bəl 

: capable of being hurt : susceptible to injury or disease

the liver is itself vulnerable to nutritional impairment

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

vulnerability

ˌvəln-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural vulnerabilities