Synonyms of responsibility

responsibility

noun

ri-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

1

as in blame

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

responsibility for the accident lies with the driver who was speeding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blame
• liability
• accountability
• fault
• answerability

2

as in obligation

something one must do because of prior agreement

I had the responsibility of closing up the shop at night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obligation
• duty
• need
• burden
• commitment
• promise
• vow
• office
• requirement
• imperative
• pledge
• constraint
• charge
• do
• pact
• payment
• oath
• devoir
• must
• incumbency
• contract
• arrangement
• trust
• debt
• word
• compulsion
• setup
• tribute
• covenant
• restraint
• compact
• reservation
• coercion
• prearrangement
• force
• onus
• engagement
• duress
• appointment
• troth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relief
• grace
• discharge
• exemption
• waiver
• ease
• stay
• release
• choice
• postponement
• selection
• option
• alternative
• preference
• loophole
• pick

3

as in reliability

worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence

the newspaper publisher should hire kids of greater responsibility to deliver its papers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reliability
• reliableness
• dependability
• trustworthiness
• credibility
• solidity
• dependableness
• solidness
• trustability
• sureness
• infallibility
• inerrancy
• creditability
• creditableness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unreliability
• dodginess
• shakiness
• dubiousness
• questionableness
• doubtfulness
• uncertainness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of responsibility

Work stress, health routines or an uneven distribution of responsibilities can expose an imbalance with a significant other or close friend. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026

Their responsibility is to hire for an existing position, not to broadly assist job seekers or help individuals explore the market. — Gabe Dymond, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Tech companies like Meta and YouTube are shielded from legal responsibility for content posted by third parties, based on Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. — ABC News, 10 July 2026

The city’s Public Works Department carries responsibility for upkeep at the two cemeteries in its budget, with no line item other than for contractual services. — Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026