Synonyms of liability

liability

noun

ˌlī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

1

as in disadvantage

a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success

though his small size is a liability as a football player, he makes up for it with speed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disadvantage
• handicap
• shortcoming
• debit
• drawback
• downside
• negative
• minus
• disbenefit
• incommodity
• impairment
• disability
• strike
• obstacle
• hurdle
• stranglehold
• failing
• albatross
• interference
• obstruction
• impediment
• embarrassment
• hindrance
• millstone
• let
• hitch
• rub
• clog
• catch
• shackle
• crimp
• stop
• trammel
• check
• bar
• manacle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• asset
• advantage
• edge
• margin
• control
• plus
• vantage
• lead
• start
• jump
• privilege
• transcendence
• predominance
• head start
• opportunity
• superiority
• supremacy
• mastery
• drop
• command
• ascendancy
• prerogative
• upper hand
• assistance
• aid
• help
• break
• better

2

as in responsibility

the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right

the liability for the accident is held by the person who was driving too fast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• responsibility
• blame
• fault
• accountability
• answerability

3

as in exposure

the state of being left without shelter or protection against something harmful

failure to properly clean the wound could increase your liability to infection

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exposure
• vulnerability
• risk
• openness
• susceptibility
• predisposition
• danger
• helplessness
• jeopardy
• peril
• weakness
• defenselessness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protection
• shielding
• safeguarding
• sheltering

4

as in likelihood

the quality or state of being likely to occur

what's the liability that he'll file a formal complaint if he's refused admission?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• likelihood
• probability
• possibility
• credibility
• plausibility
• potentiality
• reasonableness
• reasonability
• plausibleness
• viability
• feasibility
• feasibleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improbability
• unlikelihood
• impracticability
• unlikeliness
• impracticality
• dubiousness
• doubtfulness
• implausibility
• incredibility
• incredibleness

5

as in debt

usually liabilities plural something (as money) which is owed

your liabilities total about $200,000

Synonyms & Similar Words

• debt
• obligation
• indebtedness
• score
• arrears
• bankruptcy
• arrearage
• debit
• bond
• delinquency
• default
• insolvency
• embarrassment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repayment
• asset
• quietus
• quittance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of liability

The maximum allowable liability quotient tapers from 90 per cent this season to 80 per cent from 2028-29 onwards. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

App makers also advise against confrontation and accept no liability for false positives or misunderstandings. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026

An investigation has been opened to determine why the tunnels collapsed, identify the victims and those responsible for operating the site, as well as establish any potential criminal liability, the statement said. — Jean Fernand Koena, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Estremera told employees at a staff meeting days afterward that the agreement, in which Callender agreed not to sue the agency, was a way to reduce liability and ultimately save costs. — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026