vulnerable

[ vuhl-ner-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of or susceptible to being attacked, damaged, or hurt:

   a vulnerable part of the body;

   vulnerable to predators;

   a company vulnerable to a hostile takeover.

2. open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc.:

   That is an argument vulnerable to refutation.

   He is vulnerable to bribery.

3. (of a place) open to assault; difficult to defend:

   a vulnerable bridge.

4. willing to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known:

   Men and boys are rarely seen as vulnerable.

5. (of a person or population) needing supportive or protective social services and community resources because of advanced age, poverty, disability, etc.
6. Bridge. having won one of the games of a rubber.
7. Biology, Ecology. (of a threatened plant or animal species) likely to be classified endangered in the near future unless circumstances that threaten reproduction and survival improve, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: : VU

   At least 15 percent of our vulnerable reptiles are turtles.

vulnerable

/ ˈvʌlnərəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being physically or emotionally wounded or hurt
2. open to temptation, persuasion, censure, etc
3. liable or exposed to disease, disaster, etc
4. military liable or exposed to attack
5. bridge (of a side who have won one game towards rubber) subject to increased bonuses or penalties

Derived Forms

• ˈvulnerably, adverb
• ˌvulneraˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• vul·ner·a·bil·i·ty [vuhl-ner-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], vul·ner·a·ble·ness noun
• vul·ner·a·bly adverb
• un·vul·ner·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulnerable¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Late Latin vulnerābilis “injurious, wounding,” equivalent to Latin vulnerā(re) “to wound” + -bilis; -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulnerable¹

C17: from Late Latin vulnerābilis, from Latin vulnerāre to wound, from vulnus a wound

Example Sentences

More global production happens in areas that are highly vulnerable to climate change.

From Fortune

I’ll keep talking about the issues that matter most to this district as so many vulnerable communities are trying to get through this pandemic and economic crisis.

From Washington Blade

Gulf Coast refineries and petrochemical plants are often located in low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding.

From Fortune

It is a controversial approach to the coronavirus pandemic because, in allowing the disease to spread unchecked, it puts more vulnerable groups, like the elderly and immunocompromised, at greater risk of death.

From Fortune

Hence, those richly priced FANMAGs, along with other rockets such as Tesla, are highly vulnerable to a steep fall.

From Fortune

Social media forces us to not only be vulnerable for our partner but for the whole world.

From The Daily Beast

Plus, his known drug dealings certainly made him vulnerable to blackmail.

From The Daily Beast

The masterpiece is huge, but structurally flawed and terribly vulnerable to seismic activity.

From The Daily Beast

They were individuals who were vulnerable to being recruited.

From The Daily Beast

Biden remembered the boy was in a physically vulnerable position: “leaning down on one of those slanted counters.”

From The Daily Beast

The elephant, as is well known, is easily vulnerable in one spot only,—the middle of the skull.

From Project Gutenberg

If she became emotional, was vulnerable in her feelings, I knew that Roscoe's peace might be assured.

From Project Gutenberg

"Just the other way," retorted Lorenza, delighted as angry persons are at having found the antagonist's vulnerable point.

From Project Gutenberg

Every variety of danger was arising at once; the tempest was concentrated upon the vulnerable point; destruction was imminent.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally, the earlier is the warmer season with less danger to vulnerable feet and requiring a lighter equipment.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accessible
• defenseless
• exposed
• liable
• ready
• sensitive
• susceptible
• unsafe
• weak