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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of responsibility
The city’s Office of Sustainability, which led the implementation of Garcetti’s ambitious Green New Deal, was also remodeled early in Bass’s tenure, with many of its responsibilities moved to the Board of Public Works and the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office.
—
Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Decision-making becomes everyone in an organization’s responsibility in real time.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
In line with control science’s long-standing naturalization of capitalist hierarchy, and its war on intention itself, this reasoning made employers’ and consultants’ responsibility to their workers irrelevant.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Job descriptions that are vague about actual responsibilities but specific about pay and flexibility are usually designed to cast the widest net, not to fill a real role.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for responsibility
Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Decision-making becomes everyone in an organization’s responsibility in real time.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
In line with control science’s long-standing naturalization of capitalist hierarchy, and its war on intention itself, this reasoning made employers’ and consultants’ responsibility to their workers irrelevant.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Job descriptions that are vague about actual responsibilities but specific about pay and flexibility are usually designed to cast the widest net, not to fill a real role.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for responsibility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for responsibility
Noun
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Most accounts of the era blame greed—a new ethic of cupidity that displaced whatever youthful idealism remained from the 1960s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
Silina cast blame on Defense Minister Andris Spruds and fired him on Sunday.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Post-Adverse Outcome Disclosure Obligations The replacement bill also creates disclosure obligations after an adverse outcome.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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The director bills it as a five-day road movie, with Mann journeying with his citizen-of-the-world daughter, Erika; the duo unable to attend the funeral of Klaus, Mann’s son, Erika’s brother, due to their obligations on the road.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Noun
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This creates size, power, and reliability challenges—especially in contested environments.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
-
Utilities contend that squeezing investor returns could threaten grid reliability and modernization.—
Marc Levy,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Uthmeier has also argued that the government has a duty to protect children who didn’t have a say in not being raised by both biological parents.—
Ann Marie Luft,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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The bipartisan support for the measure comes at a time when federal closures have become longer and more frequent, frustrating lawmakers who say there should be punishment when Congress fails at its most basic legislative duty.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Mental-health support is often discussed in broad terms, but meaningful progress happens when care is local, comprehensive and responsive to the unique needs of individuals and families.—
Maria Bledsoe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
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Arrests and citations do nothing to address these needs.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Noun
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In a region where Malaysia’s fuel subsidies have exploded to $819 million a month, Japan’s game plan has become a burden—not an insurance policy or a strategic shield.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
The sandwich generation has been shouldering a heavy financial burden for far too long.—
Mary Moreland,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Trump blasted Cassidy as voters went to polls Trump called out Cassidy again as Pelican State voters were flocking to the polls, further underscoring his commitment to dislodging GOP dissenters.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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Freedom and commitment do not have to fight today.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Responsibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/responsibility. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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