EXPOSED Synonyms: 210 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'exposed' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of exposed are liable , open , prone , sensitive , subject , and susceptible . While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening. // exposed to infection

Q: When would 'liable' be a good substitute for 'exposed'?

The synonyms liable and exposed are sometimes interchangeable, but liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation. // liable to get lost

Q: When is 'open' a more appropriate choice than 'exposed'?

While in some cases nearly identical to exposed , open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence. // a claim open to question

Q: When might 'prone' be a better fit than 'exposed'?

Although the words prone and exposed have much in common, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something. // prone to delay

Q: Where would 'sensitive' be a reasonable alternative to 'exposed'?

The words sensitive and exposed can be used in similar contexts, but sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli. // unduly sensitive to criticism

Q: When is it sensible to use 'subject' instead of 'exposed'?

The meanings of subject and exposed largely overlap; however, subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone. // all reports are subject to review

Q: When can 'susceptible' be used instead of 'exposed'?

The words susceptible and exposed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable. // very susceptible to flattery

exposed 1 of 2

adjective

ik-ˈspōzd

Definition of exposed

as in susceptible

being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm without our immune systems we'd be exposed to all sorts of deadly infections

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in uncovered

lacking a usual or natural covering the exposed electrical wires were a safety hazard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in vulnerable

lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack the soldiers were so exposed in the open field that they were the proverbial sitting ducks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exposed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of expose

as in disclosed

to reveal the true nature of a well-researched article that exposes the UFO story as a hoax

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in revealed

to make known (as information previously kept secret) the documentary claims to expose how winners of beauty pageants are really picked

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in displayed

to make known (something abstract) through outward signs the tight race for the championship exposed one team's mean streak

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exhibited

to present so as to invite notice or attention I didn't want to expose my ignorance in front of the others, so I kept silent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective exposed contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of exposed are liable, open, prone, sensitive, subject, and susceptible. While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

When would liable be a good substitute for exposed?

The synonyms liable and exposed are sometimes interchangeable, but liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

When is open a more appropriate choice than exposed?

While in some cases nearly identical to exposed, open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

When might prone be a better fit than exposed?

Although the words prone and exposed have much in common, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

Where would sensitive be a reasonable alternative to exposed?

The words sensitive and exposed can be used in similar contexts, but sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

When is it sensible to use subject instead of exposed?

The meanings of subject and exposed largely overlap; however, subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

When can susceptible be used instead of exposed?

The words susceptible and exposed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

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 exposed

Adjective

Big Deal Identity fraud has reached a new threshold of sophistication and the banking sector is among the most exposed. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 June 2026 The outer layers of the star will eventually cool and disperse, leaving a nebula of ex-stellar material surrounding the sun's core, which will then become an exposed cooling stellar remnant called a white dwarf. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026

Verb

Local officials reported to the National Weather Service the man had been exposed to extreme heat over multiple days, with the heat index over 100. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 5 July 2026 Most people exposed to the bacteria do not develop the disease, officials said. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for exposed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exposed

Adjective

Creamer of the Fresh Fruit Association said the state food and agriculture department’s lagging pest and disease prevention funding makes the state more susceptible to the kinds of incidents that happened recently.

— Lizzie Kane July 9, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
Infections, other immune-system stressors and, more rarely, brain injuries may also contribute in genetically susceptible individuals.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of susceptible

Adjective

But most wrecks of slave ships remain uncovered on the coast.

— Amara Evering, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026
How To Keep It Cleaner Longer While synthetic wicker furniture is built to take the elements, wicker pieces woven from natural materials are porous and are not meant to be left out in uncovered areas.

— Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 19 June 2026

Definition of uncovered

Adjective

His opposition to the measure in California could still leave him vulnerable to criticism from progressives in a national Democratic primary.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
However, that is changing as the US Department of Defense seeks more robust, less vulnerable power systems for military satellites that are less hazardous than the older spacecraft powered by uranium and plutonium.

— David Szondy July 07, New Atlas, 8 July 2026

Definition of vulnerable

Verb

The experiments revealed signatures of the non-Hermitian skin effect, where quantum states concentrate near one end of the system instead of remaining evenly distributed.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
Ignoring the counsel of family, friends and political advisors who, to a person, warned against it, Huffman revealed his religious disbelief in a series of statements and interviews in November 2017.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of revealed

Verb

Patriots also sawed off the decorative Royal Crowns displayed at the top of the fence around Bowling Green.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
During the third act, in a cunning effect, when anyone picks up a phone, the screen’s contents are displayed on a wall as the lights fade, muting the friends onstage.

— Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026

Definition of displayed

Verb

On loan from the Bayeux Museum in Normandy, it will be displayed at the British Museum from September 10, 2026, to July 11, 2027, the first time in its nearly 1000-year history the work has been publicly exhibited on British soil.

— Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 3 July 2026
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu tweets that five passengers from the country were evacuated from the ship and one of them exhibited symptoms after boarding the evacuation flight.

— Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of exhibited

Adjective

The autonomous coding tool can send sensitive information to a remote server without a user’s consent, the statement said in Chinese, according to a CNBC translation.

— Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 July 2026
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the possible crash.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026

Definition of sensitive

Adjective

Prestigious awards like the President’s Volunteer Service Award can become the bare minimum in certain competitive environments as community service opportunities become sit-at-home endeavors.

— Anya Joseph, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
An Italian fishing village on Lake Como has introduced a fine for anyone found wandering its streets bare-chested or in swimwear.

— Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 8 July 2026

Definition of bare

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exposer

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“Exposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exposed. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of exposed

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verb

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