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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 responsibility
Following a violent incident, Pol is drawn to faith but growing tensions force him to confront belief, violence, loss, and responsibility.
—
Ed Meza, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
After the 2012 reorganization, because DERM was still responsible for any appeals to decisions, technically permitting remained its responsibility, as indicated by the flow chart.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
But after 34 games, Arnold has proven herself more than capable of shouldering the responsibility.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The new Broward County Tax Collector’s Office is proud to fulfill that responsibility every day.
—Abbey Ajayi, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for responsibility
Ed Meza, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
After the 2012 reorganization, because DERM was still responsible for any appeals to decisions, technically permitting remained its responsibility, as indicated by the flow chart.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
But after 34 games, Arnold has proven herself more than capable of shouldering the responsibility.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The new Broward County Tax Collector’s Office is proud to fulfill that responsibility every day.
—Abbey Ajayi, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for responsibility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for responsibility
Noun
-
Kondayya puts some of the blame for the crash on the city, alleging the backhoe was parked illegally.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring Pakistani militant groups; both sides deny targeting civilians while trading blame for attacks.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Add child care, car payments and other recurring expenses, and much of a household's income can become locked into monthly obligations.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Luna is highlighting your bank account from her spot in your 2nd House of Numbers, while Jupiter in your 8th House of Shared Resources potentially adds relationship obligations.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Aim for clear headlines and concise notes, and agree on timelines to ensure your reputation reflects focus and reliability.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
In an effort to strengthen the long-term reliability of Connecticut’s freight rail network, the Connecticut Department of Transportation awarded $20 million in grants through the Rail Freight Infrastructure Program.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Clifford and DeRozan also took on a share of the ballhandling duties.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And local police departments and sheriff’s offices, through the 287(g) program, perform the duties of ICE while wearing their respective badges.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But not all airlines hedge, and those that do are usually only protected for a portion of their fuel needs, meaning prolonged price surges may cause more carriers to raise fares.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Ledezma, a senior research analyst at the CSU Chancellor’s Office and doctoral candidate at UC Irvine, spoke during her interview about the need to remove barriers for students in the region.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Washington state already ranks a dismal 45th out of the 50 states in tax friendliness because of a heavy burden of sales, capital gains, property and excise taxes.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The administration argues that the delay removes compliance burdens while allowing proper review of whether the specific provisions—including airline liability, refresher training frequency, pre-departure notifications, and fare reimbursements—are justified and appropriately calibrated.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The occasion Saturday afternoon was a commitment announcement bash for Dons star running back/defensive back Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, broadcast live by the streaming service CBS Sports HQ.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
But the fact that employees still showed up, including without pay during last year’s federal government shutdown, demonstrates their commitment to keeping the beloved parks flourishing.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Responsibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/responsibility. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
