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

Total household assets currently stand at more than ten times household liabilities. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

And companies like CoreWeave can’t rack up $52 billion in liabilities without a clear path to pay it back. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Businesses with greater liability exposure should consider whether umbrella coverage is needed to help protect against catastrophic losses. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Operators will also be required to submit water management plans, a thermal and microclimate analysis, proof of liability insurance, and a noise study and mitigation plan, among other actions. — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026