susceptible

[suh-sep-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. admitting or capable of some specified treatment.

   susceptible of a high polish; susceptible to various interpretations.

2. accessible or especially liable or subject to some influence, mood, agency, etc..

   susceptible to colds; susceptible to flattery.

3. capable of being affected emotionally; impressionable.

susceptible

/ səˈsɛptəbəl /

adjective

1. (postpositive; foll by of or to) yielding readily (to); capable (of)

   hypotheses susceptible of refutation

   susceptible to control

2. liable to be afflicted (by)

   susceptible to colds

3. easily impressed emotionally

Other Word Forms

• susceptibleness noun
• susceptibly adverb
• nonsusceptible adjective
• nonsusceptibleness noun
• nonsusceptibly adverb
• oversusceptible adjective
• oversusceptibleness noun
• oversusceptibly adverb
• presusceptible adjective
• unsusceptible adjective
• unsusceptibleness noun
• unsusceptibly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of susceptible¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin susceptibilis, from suscept(us) “taken up” (past participle of suscipere “to take up, support,” from sus- sus- + -cipere, combining form of capere “to take”) + -ibilis -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of susceptible¹

C17: from Late Latin susceptibilis, from Latin suscipere to take up, from _sub- + capere to take

Example Sentences

"I have a slightly dysfunctional immune system and am really susceptible to infections with big changes in life, or disruption to sleep and environmental stresses," said the 37-year-old.

From BBC

Older residents are much more susceptible to dying from heat or related complications, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

This makes him susceptible to conceding from quickly taken shots, but his approach is fairly successful in smothering chances, especially given how wide he spreads himself and the use of his feet to make saves.

From BBC

This coupled with drier summers leaves them stressed and susceptible to falling in stormy weather, and this is when Ips can take hold.

From BBC

This makes viewers susceptible to believing it - "not all crazy conspiracy theorists who naively fall for disinformation".

From BBC

Related Words

• affected 
• easy 
• impressionable 
• inclined 
• liable 
• prone 
• ready 
• receptive 
• responsive 
• sensitive 
• vulnerable 
• wide open