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

Gould champions the idea of holding dog owners accountable for properly training and containing their dogs. —Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026

Regulatory regimes in some nations now hold cybersecurity leaders personally accountable for governance failures, with penalties ranging from fines and sanctions to criminal liability. —Harpreet Sidhu, Fortune, 13 June 2026

Understand cash inflow from cradle to grave and look at the forecast and cash flow weekly, holding everyone accountable for knowing their numbers and delivering on their numbers. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Violence like that at Hitsats has become more common, and no one has been held accountable for Filimon’s murder, nor for the dozens of other injuries and deaths. —Claire Wilmot & Gisa Tunbridge, The Dial, 12 June 2026