RESPONSIBLE Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'responsible' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of responsible are accountable , amenable , answerable , and liable . While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust. // the bureau responsible for revenue collection

Q: When could 'accountable' be used to replace 'responsible'?

The words accountable and responsible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation. // elected officials are accountable to the voters

Q: How do 'amenable' and 'liable' relate to one another, in the sense of 'responsible'?

Both amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions. // laws are amenable to judicial review // not liable for the debts of the former spouse

Q: When is it sensible to use 'answerable' instead of 'responsible'?

The synonyms answerable and responsible are sometimes interchangeable, but answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance. // an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

responsible

adjective

ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl

Definition of responsible next

as in liable

being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so the state laws hold pet owners responsible for any damage or injury done by improperly restrained animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in reliable

worthy of one's trust our regular babysitter is very responsible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective responsible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of responsible are accountable, amenable, answerable, and liable. While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

When could accountable be used to replace responsible?

The words accountable and responsible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation.

elected officials are accountable to the voters

How do amenable and liable relate to one another, in the sense of responsible?

Both amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions.

laws are amenable to judicial review

not liable for the debts of the former spouse

When is it sensible to use answerable instead of responsible?

The synonyms answerable and responsible are sometimes interchangeable, but answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance.

an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

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 responsible Those two taps of the head were responsible for two of Yamamoto’s 10 strikeouts in Sunday’s win. —

Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 3 June 2026 Ben Townsend, head of infrastructure strategy and sustainability with Google, told The Star that the company is looking to provide a blueprint to policymakers and the public about what responsible water use looks like for data centers. —

Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026 In plants that could detect the In11 peptide, a feeding caterpillar triggered the rapid up-regulation of 527 genes, including the ones responsible for anti-herbivore defenses. —

Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026 It’s been measured across hundreds of thousands of people, and the habits responsible are more accessible than most people expect. —

Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for responsible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for responsible

Adjective

Though president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is always liable to seek help from outside of the organization, the team’s minor-league depth is markedly thin, particularly after the team opened this season by promoting Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter to the big-league squad.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
But in that case, the departing spouse is still liable for the mortgage.

— Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026