Definition of liabilitynext
1
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in debt
usually liabilities plural something (as money) which is owed your liabilities total about $200,000

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 liability State officials investigate and review such incidents for potential criminal liability, according to the DOJ. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026 Microsoft’s competitors use similar language to cover for possible liabilities. Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 Apr. 2026 The settlement was one among 75 agreements the agency finalized that year as part of a program for Swiss banks to resolve potential criminal liabilities in the United States. Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026 The judge wrote that Keane and Madsen, the former city building officials, are entitled to qualified immunity, which protects government officials from liability for acts performed within the scope of their jobs. Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liability
Noun
  • The era of the concert hall was at hand, and the same qualities that had made the mandolin attractive at home now put it at a disadvantage.
    Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Those will be difficult headwinds for Whatley to combat, Bitzer and Roberts both said, especially since members of the sitting president’s party already tend to be at a disadvantage in competitive midterm elections.
    Mary Ramsey April 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Hengemuhle said that, as human beings, there is a responsibility to do everything possible to combat hate, which requires understanding and educating one another, as well as drawing on different policing and professional backgrounds.
    Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Arrington wants to open up a conversation about adding fiscal responsibility to the country’s Constitution.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As part of the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are asking for medical monitoring in case the potential exposure leads to future conditions.
    Dan Raby, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Orion would reenter Earth’s atmosphere at a steeper angle to shorten its exposure to high temperatures that could cause cracking.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Ford said persistently wet soil conditions across the state are limiting stormwater absorption, sending more runoff into major waterways such as the Des Plaines and Fox rivers and raising the likelihood of flash flooding.
    Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The likelihood of success in a second round of talks increases with the political exigencies and condition of those at the table.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Another budget boondoggle would shift the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, its assets and debts to tiny New College of Florida, run by a DeSantis ally, Richard Corcoran, and a band of right-wing trustees.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Dolce & Gabbana's lenders are seeking a cash injection of up to 150 million euros at the company, as part of ​a broader 450 million euro ($526 million) debt refinancing, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
    Reuters, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Julian would dismiss the first two, claiming that wokeness gives an old, white male like him the handicap.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Shape of brush The overall shape of a scrub brush can be an asset or a handicap.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There’s substantial academic disagreement and new thinking on many aspects of climate change — and numerous places to assess blame for what’s ultimately a global challenge.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Lead with the shared goal, then explain the sticking point without blame, since precision helps others trust your intensity.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But there is a more general dread about human vulnerability to technology—a growing existential fear that people are losing the authorship and agency of their own lives to, particularly, artificial intelligence—that will be reflected in an avalanche of related negligent-design legal claims.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
  • In part, that’s because both actors are delivering impeccable work, balancing their caustic comic chemistry with course, unbridled vulnerability.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Liability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liability. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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