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

It is thought that by limiting the oxygen available and causing damage to motor neurone cells, regular, strenuous exercise can trigger the disease in those already genetically susceptible.

From BBC

As such, all sorts of people are susceptible to believing or considering misinformation.

From BBC

“Cats metabolize some of the anti-infective compounds very differently than other animals, including people, and they’re quite susceptible to bad side effects of many of these drugs,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Discovery, owns broadcast networks, meaning they are “much less susceptible to pressure from the FCC.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Many of these buildings have not been retrofitted and may be susceptible to similar severe structural damage or even building collapse in a major earthquake,” the city of Torrance warns.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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