Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective responsible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of responsible are accountable, amenable, answerable, and liable. While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

When could accountable be used to replace responsible?

The words accountable and responsible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation.

elected officials are accountable to the voters

How do amenable and liable relate to one another, in the sense of responsible?

Both amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions.

laws are amenable to judicial review
not liable for the debts of the former spouse

When is it sensible to use answerable instead of responsible?

The synonyms answerable and responsible are sometimes interchangeable, but answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance.

an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

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 responsible That team is responsible for covering everything from policy debates in Madison to decisions made about principals and superintendents at your local school board. Greg Borowski, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025 The strike comes after Joël Lightbound, the minister responsible for Canada Post, detailed a number of modifications to the national postal service, including the end of door-to-door mail service, termination of the rural moratorium on post office closures, and more. Solcyré Burga, Time, 26 Sep. 2025 These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025 Kyle storms off and vows to find whoever is responsible. Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for responsible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for responsible
Adjective
  • However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable.
    Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The Lawrence School never reopened While the facility itself has not been found liable for the incidents, The Lawrence School is no longer in operation.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Public chargers also need to be reliable.
    Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • During the past decade, Tranter has established himself as one of the music industry’s most reliable hitmakers, thanks to his clever, boisterous lyricism and dramatic, over-the-top choruses and hooks.
    Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Magdalene Serenity House received inquiries from 190 women seeking a safe place to heal, recover and rebuild in 2024 with 117 meeting the group's eligibility requirements, organizers say.
    Carin Schoppmeyer, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Store in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or airtight container, and label and date before freezing.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • By this time, Elio is beginning to confront the reality of Oliver’s eventual departure (and thus, his first experience of true heartbreak).
    James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
  • This time, the Cougars feature a true freshman at QB in Bear Bachmeier, who has looked sharp throwing for 518 yards and four TDs as BYU breezed through non-conference play.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Jodie Chavious, a board member of the Slow Food Sacramento chapter and owner of the Chavious Pop-Up pizza truck, said representing small farmers was vital to promoting the core tenets of Slow Food — being good, clean and fair.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Just for good measure, award-winning country superstars like Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde and Lainey Wilson would be inclined to agree.
    Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The pick underscores China’s steady shift over the past decade of submitting large-scale historical narratives with potent national symbolism instead of the arthouse human dramas that more regularly win the country’s filmmakers acclaim overseas.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Her steady, unseductive gaze confronts the viewer and demands recognition of her authorship.
    Sally Jane Brown, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Responsible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/responsible. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on responsible

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