vulnerable

[vuhl-ner-uh-buh l]

See more synonyms for vulnerable on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

Origin of vulnerable

1595–1605; < Late Latin vulnerābilis, equivalent to Latin vulnerā(re) to wound + -bilis -ble; see vulnerary

Related formsvul·ner·a·bil·i·ty, vul·ner·a·ble·ness, nounvul·ner·a·bly, adverbun·vul·ner·a·ble, adjective

Can be confusedvenerable vulnerable

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for vulnerabilities

susceptibility, duty, onus, amenability, compulsion, culpability, indebtedness, blame, accountability, liability, burden, openness, obligation, debt, subjection, arrearage, owing

Examples from the Web for vulnerabilities

Contemporary Examples of vulnerabilities

Who are we surprised to recognize in their vulnerabilities, in their resolve?
Real Thrills And High Art In A Poignant Page-Turner Of A Novel
Susan Cheever
May 16, 2014
He found it “iffy,” he says, and he started searching for vulnerabilities.
Meet Graham Smith, SnapChat’s 16-Year-Old Nemesis
Nina Strochlic
January 29, 2014
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 Outsider
Rawiya Kameir
December 10, 2013
He is astute enough to address his vulnerabilities with large sections of the party.
Rand Paul: I’m Not My Dad
David Catanese
June 29, 2013
Of course, there are other vulnerabilities associated with debt buildups that depend on the composition of the debt itself.
Did Reinhart and Rogoff Flub a Major Statistic?
Megan McArdle
April 17, 2013

Historical Examples of vulnerabilities

The typical exploiter of these vulnerabilities is a foreigner.
After the Rain
Sam Vaknin
We are all too well aware that any strategy and force structure have vulnerabilities and potential weaknesses.
Shock and Awe
Harlan K. Ullman

British Dictionary definitions for vulnerabilities

vulnerable

adjective

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

Derived Formsvulnerability or vulnerableness, nounvulnerably, adverb

Word Origin for vulnerable

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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."