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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

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 accountable Who’s responsible and accountable for the all of the deaths from these decisions? Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2025 So, how can Kansas City residents hold the police department accountable? Kennedy Sessions, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2025 Everything on the football sides feels measured and accountable, notable by the calm and steady hand of adults in the room. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2025 John Moore’s life John was the youngest of four boys but was the brother that held the others accountable. Damenica Ellis, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accountable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accountable
Adjective
  • Net price calculators are helpful tools for families to frame the cost conversation with real numbers and engage in dialogue about who will be responsible for what costs.
    Robert Cole, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Your eyes do a remarkably good job of seeing in low-light conditions, thanks in part to what’s known as rhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein found in the retina of the eye—specifically in the rod cells, which are responsible for our ability to see at night.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The lawsuit alleges that the raw milk producer and seller are liable because the product contained Campylobacter and E. coli and failed to give adequate warnings of the product’s dangers.
    Mark Harper, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Ex-Dominion employee Eric Coomer’s defamation case against Lindell, which focused on defamatory claims made about Coomer specifically, did go to trial earlier this summer, with a jury ruling in June that Lindell is liable for defamation and must pay Coomer $2.3 million in damages.
    Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Accountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accountable. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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