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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective susceptible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of susceptible are exposed, liable, open, prone, sensitive, and subject. While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

When might exposed be a better fit than susceptible?

While in some cases nearly identical to susceptible, exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

When can liable be used instead of susceptible?

Although the words liable and susceptible have much in common, liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

When could open be used to replace susceptible?

In some situations, the words open and susceptible are roughly equivalent. However, open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

When would prone be a good substitute for susceptible?

The words prone and susceptible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

In what contexts can sensitive take the place of susceptible?

While the synonyms sensitive and susceptible are close in meaning, sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

Where would subject be a reasonable alternative to susceptible?

The meanings of subject and susceptible largely overlap; however, subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

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 susceptible Dogs with thick, double-layered coats tend to be more resistant to cold, while dogs with thin coats are more susceptible to cold, according to PetMD. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Oct. 2025 Still, many questions remain about which foods are addictive, which people are most susceptible to this addiction and why. Claire Wilcox, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025 Losing both cuts off nearly 20% of the state’s refining capacity and makes California susceptible to potential shortages if there are disruptions to foreign, waterborne supplies. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025 Keep late-season pruning cuts to a minimum because pruning can causes plants to produce new growth, which is more susceptible to the cold. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for susceptible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for susceptible
Adjective
  • This makes West Antarctica’s ice sheet the most vulnerable to collapse.
    Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Factory owners expressed their dismay on social media, noting that while workplace safety had improved significantly over the past decade, unregulated factories remained vulnerable.
    Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • At first, the doctor’s sympathies would be with the family, who seemed helpless given their lack of autonomy and the dictates of their circumstances.
    Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, of Charlotte, is also charged with contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; stalking; and damage to property.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Old-school phishing emails were easy to spot because of typos and bad grammar.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • While allowed, breaking away from it would not be easy for Pennsylvania—or any other state which is currently served by it.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Avoid posting sensitive information like travel plans, birthdays or financial updates on social media.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The Creature, who remains nameless throughout the novel, develops into a sensitive and inquisitive soul, yet one shunned by the world for his appearance.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Without formal recognition, unregistered unions are not able to collect union dues from members or represent them in disputes, leaving workers legally unprotected and employers unaccountable.
    Sourcing Journal, Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The team detected unprotected internet traffic from US military sea vessels, including ship names and identifiers.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet despite this unprecedented sophistication, exploitable patterns remain.
    Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • This could soon begin to attract the criminal organizations looking for exploitable areas of science.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The eggs are the first fossils to be reliably dated from the Qinglongshan fossil reserve, which includes three sites containing more than 3,000 eggs, the majority of which are semi-exposed and preserved in 3D, with their original shapes largely intact.
    Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Showcase the Apple iPhone Air’s slim design while protecting it with this bumper that leaves the front and back exposed.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Trump isn’t naive and knows that Netanyahu has incentives to preserve electoral support by remaining a wartime leader.
    Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Gabber’s got this naive brutality to it.
    Alma Rota, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Susceptible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/susceptible. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on susceptible

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