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 Sheetz and his legal team argue he is being held financially responsible for public infrastructure because the fee helps pay for public roadways. —

Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026 As national coordinator, Serano will be responsible for overseeing efforts across the Justice Department and other federal agencies to investigate and prosecute human trafficking and child exploitation crimes. —

Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 17 June 2026 North Carolina’s Fault Rules Can Make for Complications North Carolina is known for its contributory negligence rule, which can limit recovery if an injured person is found partly responsible for the accident. —

Will Jones, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026 Researchers found that this type of ancient plague evolved long before bubonic plague, which was responsible for the Black Death that struck medieval Europe. —

ABC News, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for responsible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for responsible

Adjective

The Iskanders sued Grossman and Erickson, and last week a jury found the pair liable in the boys’ deaths, awarding $176 million in damages to parents Nancy and Karim Iskander and younger son Zachary for wrongful death and emotional distress.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
The court’s order—requiring a temporary injunction barring Google from spreading the false claims in any further AI Overviews—may have global implications, as the court seems to be the first to hold an AI firm liable for AI speech.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026