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 Ultimately, however, the academy director is accountable. Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 3 July 2025 Bottom line: Working with a fitness professional can fast-track your progress and keep you accountable. Fred Sassani, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Expanding regulations like the recent Take It Down Act may make platforms more accountable for fraud, but in the meantime CEOs and everyone else—beware. Diane Brady, Fortune, 2 July 2025 Julie Roginsky and Gretchen Carlson, survivors and co-founders of the nonprofit Lift Our Voices, say onlookers shouldn’t lose sight of how Combs has been held accountable. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for accountable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accountable
Adjective
  • While the statue itself would be paid for by the people of France, the Americans would be responsible for its prodigious base.
    Mo Rocca July 6, CBS News, 6 July 2025
  • Interestingly, research has found that asthmatics tend to have lower levels of IgG. While camel milk is rich in these bioactive compounds, the study didn’t isolate or quantify which specific components were responsible for the observed effects.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • The lender can seize only the real property and no other assets and the estate isn’t liable for any shortfall.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • No-fault car insurance means a driver’s insurance company pays for their own medical expenses and certain other losses after an accident, regardless of who is held liable.
    Liz Knueven, CNBC, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Accountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accountable. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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