vulnerable
[vuhl-ner-uh-buh l]
- capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon: a vulnerable part of the body.
- open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc.: an argument vulnerable to refutation; He is vulnerable to bribery.
- (of a place) open to assault; difficult to defend: a vulnerable bridge.
- Bridge. having won one of the games of a rubber.
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Origin of vulnerable
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for vulnerabilities
Contemporary Examples
Who are we surprised to recognize in their vulnerabilities, in their resolve?
He found it “iffy,” he says, and he started searching for vulnerabilities.
Over the past little while, Gambino has been honest about his vulnerabilities, emotional and otherwise.
‘Because the Internet’ Review: Childish Gambino Is Hip-Hop’s Perennial OutsiderRawiya Kameir
December 10, 2013
He is astute enough to address his vulnerabilities with large sections of the party.
Of course, there are other vulnerabilities associated with debt buildups that depend on the composition of the debt itself.
Historical Examples
The typical exploiter of these vulnerabilities is a foreigner.
After the RainSam Vaknin
We are all too well aware that any strategy and force structure have vulnerabilities and potential weaknesses.
Shock and AweHarlan K. Ullman
vulnerable
- capable of being physically or emotionally wounded or hurt
- open to temptation, persuasion, censure, etc
- liable or exposed to disease, disaster, etc
- military liable or exposed to attack
- bridge (of a side who have won one game towards rubber) subject to increased bonuses or penalties
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Word Origin
C17: from Late Latin vulnerābilis, from Latin vulnerāre to wound, from vulnus a wound
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for vulnerabilities
vulnerable
adj.
c.1600, from Late Latin vulnerabilis "wounding," from Latin vulnerare "to wound," from vulnus (genitive vulneris) "wound," perhaps related to vellere "pluck, to tear."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper