vulnerable

[vuhl-ner-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. capable of or susceptible to being attacked, damaged, or hurt.

   a vulnerable part of the body;

   vulnerable to predators;

   a company vulnerable to a hostile takeover.

2. open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc..

   That is an argument vulnerable to refutation.

   He is vulnerable to bribery.

3. (of a place) open to assault; difficult to defend.

   a vulnerable bridge.

4. willing to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known.

   Men and boys are rarely seen as vulnerable.

5. (of a person or population) needing supportive or protective social services and community resources because of advanced age, poverty, disability, etc.

6. Bridge.,  having won one of the games of a rubber.

7. Biology, Ecology.,  (of a threatened plant or animal species) likely to be classified endangered in the near future unless circumstances that threaten reproduction and survival improve, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: VU

   At least 15 percent of our vulnerable reptiles are turtles.

vulnerable

/ ˈvʌlnərəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being physically or emotionally wounded or hurt

2. open to temptation, persuasion, censure, etc

3. liable or exposed to disease, disaster, etc

4. military liable or exposed to attack

5. bridge (of a side who have won one game towards rubber) subject to increased bonuses or penalties

Other Word Forms

• vulnerably adverb
• vulnerability noun
• vulnerableness noun
• unvulnerable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulnerable¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Late Latin vulnerābilis “injurious, wounding,” equivalent to Latin vulnerā(re) “to wound” + -bilis; -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulnerable¹

C17: from Late Latin vulnerābilis, from Latin vulnerāre to wound, from vulnus a wound

Example Sentences

Ms Njoki said she would ask Defence Secretary John Healey about what systems the British army intended to put in place to protect vulnerable local women who live around international army bases.

Read more on BBC

China’s actions show that the U.S. is vulnerable to economic pressure, and China has forced the administration to choose between further escalation or a humiliating climbdown.

Read more on Barron's

LGBTQ+ media visibility is only meaningful if paired with a commitment to truth, equity and, most importantly, care for the most vulnerable among us.

Read more on Salon

In Madagascar, 14 species were newly classified as near threatened and three others were labelled vulnerable.

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For example, take note of when you feel most vulnerable to make an impulse purchase.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• accessible 
• defenseless 
• exposed 
• liable 
• ready 
• sensitive 
• susceptible 
• unsafe 
• weak