Synonyms of accountable

accountable

adjective

ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl 

as in responsible

being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so

the owner was held accountable for his dog's biting of the child

Synonyms & Similar Words

• responsible
• liable
• answerable
• amenable
• indebted
• obligated
• beholden
• obliged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• irresponsible
• unaccountable
• exempt
• immune
• nonaccountable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective accountable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of accountable are amenable, answerable, liable, and responsible. While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," 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 accountable?

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 answerable a more appropriate choice than accountable?

While in some cases nearly identical to accountable, 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

When would responsible be a good substitute for accountable?

The words responsible and accountable can be used in similar contexts, but responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of accountable

Rubin’s website also highlights her campaign priorities, which include a need to improve traffic safety and a focus on holding developers accountable for their promises, specifically related to the 135th Street Corridor. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025

For Gen Z, complaining can be a way to set boundaries, speak up, and try to hold companies accountable. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

The Department of Education can help hold states and districts accountable and push districts and schools to be more responsive. —Joshua Cowen, The Conversation, 17 Oct. 2025

Yet the wrongly accused, like myself, have no recourse to hold prosecutors accountable. —Micah Kimball, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025