susceptible
Americanadjective
-
admitting or capable of some specified treatment.
susceptible of a high polish; susceptible to various interpretations.
-
accessible or especially liable or subject to some influence, mood, agency, etc..
susceptible to colds; susceptible to flattery.
-
capable of being affected emotionally; impressionable.
adjective
-
(postpositive; foll by of or to) yielding readily (to); capable (of)
hypotheses susceptible of refutation
susceptible to control
-
liable to be afflicted (by)
susceptible to colds
-
easily impressed emotionally
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of susceptible
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
Explanation
If you are susceptible to something such as infections or earaches, it means you are likely to become sick with these things. Have you ever received something you don't want? Well, with susceptible meaning "likely to be influenced or affected by" that is probably going to be the case. If you're susceptible to flattery, and someone wants something from you, all they have to do is give you a compliment or two and you'll do what they want. Material that's susceptible to cracking won't be in good condition for long.
Vocabulary lists containing susceptible
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
1984
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Esperanza Rising
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Levanon said he used to think physical, blue-collar work was less susceptible to AI than office work.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
These differences appear to contribute to greater activity in inflammation-related pathways in females, offering a new biological explanation for why women may be more susceptible to autoimmune disease.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
The left-hander looks susceptible to the ball angled across him.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
He was spoiled by his loving, indulgent mother but susceptible to bullying among his streetwise friends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
In some ways she was far more acute than Winston, and far less susceptible to Party propaganda.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
