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 The case also signals how regulators may hold technology companies accountable for systemic practices that affect vulnerable populations, setting a precedent that could ripple across the broader gig economy. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025 For Brazil, the verdict is proof that even a former president can be held accountable. Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025 As a father, husband, and employer, he must be held accountable. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accountable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accountable
Adjective
  • Fight back against the bulls--- framing that tries to make Dems responsible for everything.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Violence is violence, and there is one person responsible for what happened, and that person is now in custody and will be charged soon and will be held accountable.
    Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • If that claim were to be accepted in a court, those firms could be liable for the costs of those heat waves.
    Justin Worland, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Those warnings would explain that consumers can attempt to hold companies civilly or criminally liable for any loss or damages, the bill said, while warning that the product could be discontinued at any time.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Accountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accountable. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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