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

But who’s responsible and will anyone be held accountable? —Chris Papst, Baltimore Sun, 21 Aug. 2025

The guy who will keep the group accountable is junior quarterback Gardner Nordman, who has been in the system for three years now. —Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who had filed the lawsuit against Mueller, welcomed the judgement as a sign that those responsible for the collapse were being held accountable. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025

Open source, when led by transparent and accountable communities, offers a path to digital autonomy and resilience. —Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025