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 Where labor laws exist, a lack of enforcement ends up holding no one accountable when systems are dysfunctional. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025 Jeffrey Epstein's cabal of politicians, bureaucrats, and elites who turned a blind eye must be held accountable. Anna Commander gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 But not all coup plotters are held accountable for their actions. Joe Wright, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025 Travelers of color spoke up, calling out inequities and holding brands accountable. AFAR Media, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accountable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accountable
Adjective
  • These are all features developed by the building’s original creators, the Miami firm of Steward-Skinner and Associates, prominent architects of the time also responsible for the design of the Miami Seaquarium and MIA’s first jet-age terminal.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Just because data is used does not mean that reliable, responsible insight is necessarily being delivered.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The claim names Milwaukee County, the county's Circuit Court, and the Sheriff's Office as being liable for injuries and damages.
    Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • However, the jury found Google liable for two of three privacy violation claims.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Accountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accountable. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on accountable

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