Synonyms of answerable

answerable

adjective

ˈan(t)-s(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

as in responsible

being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so

you are answerable for your own conduct at all times

Synonyms & Similar Words

• responsible
• liable
• accountable
• amenable
• indebted
• beholden
• obligated
• obliged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unaccountable
• irresponsible
• exempt
• immune
• nonaccountable

2

as in resolvable

capable of having the reason for or cause of determined

they say this equation is not answerable

Synonyms & Similar Words

• resolvable
• feasible
• explainable
• soluble
• explicable
• solvable
• analyzable
• workable
• decipherable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insoluble
• inexplicable
• difficult
• hopeless
• unsolvable
• impossible
• unexplainable
• inextricable
• knotty
• insolvable
• unresolvable
• insuperable
• absurd
• ridiculous
• preposterous
• outlandish
• fantastic
• fantastical

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective answerable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of answerable are accountable, amenable, liable, and responsible. While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," 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

Where would accountable be a reasonable alternative to answerable?

The synonyms accountable and answerable are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 answerable?

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 can responsible be used instead of answerable?

The meanings of responsible and answerable largely overlap; however, responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of answerable

Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon might all have been answerable to those charges, and that’s just limiting ourselves to the 20th century. —Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 7 Feb. 2025

Independent agencies cannot be both neutral and fair enforcers of the law and simultaneously only answerable to the president, Malloy said. —Carrie Johnson, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025

Critics respond that their independent status undermines democratic principles, effectively creating a fourth branch of government that is answerable to no one. —James Broughel, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Lawmakers in Washington fear ByteDance is ultimately answerable to the Chinese government, which could make Americans' data and political views potentially vulnerable to a foreign adversary. —Bobby Allyn, NPR, 13 Feb. 2025