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Synonyms

exposed

American  
[ik-spohzd] / ɪkˈspoʊzd /

adjective

  1. left or being without shelter or protection.

    The house stood on a windy, exposed cliff.

  2. laid open to view; unconcealed.

    an exposed king of spades.

  3. susceptible to attack; vulnerable.


exposed British  
/ ɪkˈspəʊzd, ɪkˈspəʊzɪdnɪs /

adjective

  1. not concealed; displayed for viewing

  2. without shelter from the elements

  3. susceptible to attack or criticism; vulnerable

  4. mountaineering (of a climb, pitch, or move) performed on a high, sheer, and unsheltered rock face

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of exposed

First recorded in 1620–30; expose + -ed 2

Explanation

Something that's exposed is uncovered or unprotected. An exposed hillside isn't sheltered by hills, trees, or buildings, but is completely open to the wind and weather. If you venture out on a bitterly cold day with no gloves, your exposed fingers might get frostbite, and a soldier in battle with no body armor is dangerously exposed. If you leave a wooden chair outside all year long, exposed to rain and snow and sun, it will eventually fall apart. Exposed comes from the verb expose, "leave without shelter or defense," from the Latin root exponere, "lay open or reveal."

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Vocabulary lists containing exposed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As Hass delicately puts it, “The open divergences between Washington and its partners over the war’s legitimacy, execution, and fallout have exposed fissures that risk metastasizing to other issue areas over time.”

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026

And an inexperienced XI including three debutants has been exposed by New Zealand, who look set to level the series at 1-1 to force a decide at Trent Bridge.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026

As frozen ground degrades, previously buried minerals become exposed and water interacts more extensively with rock surfaces.

From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026

The body panels have exposed fasteners, allowing—even encouraging—DIY’ers to swap out panels and upgrade exterior features, such as fog lights, signals, headlights and taillights.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026

Her dad often did work high above the ground, sometimes even trotting across exposed beams in half-built skyscrapers to fix problems left behind by automated cranes.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

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