vulnerable
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.
open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc.: That is an argument vulnerable to refutation.He is vulnerable to bribery.
(of a place) open to assault; difficult to defend: a vulnerable bridge.
willing to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known: Men and boys are rarely seen as vulnerable.
(of a person or population) needing supportive or protective social services and community resources because of advanced age, poverty, disability, etc.
Bridge. having won one of the games of a rubber.
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: At least 15 percent of our vulnerable reptiles are turtles.Abbreviation: VU
Origin of vulnerable
1Other words from vulnerable
- vul·ner·a·bil·i·ty [vuhl-ner-uh-bil-i-tee], /ˌvʌl nər əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, vul·ner·a·ble·ness, noun
- vul·ner·a·bly, adverb
- un·vul·ner·a·ble, adjective
Words that may be confused with vulnerable
- venerable, vulnerable
Words Nearby vulnerable
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use vulnerable in a sentence
More global production happens in areas that are highly vulnerable to climate change.
COVID-19 and climate change expose the dangers of unstable supply chains | matthewheimer | August 27, 2020 | FortuneI’ll keep talking about the issues that matter most to this district as so many vulnerable communities are trying to get through this pandemic and economic crisis.
Texas congressional candidate slams homophobic GOP attacks | Michael K. Lavers | August 27, 2020 | Washington BladeGulf Coast refineries and petrochemical plants are often located in low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding.
It is a controversial approach to the coronavirus pandemic because, in allowing the disease to spread unchecked, it puts more vulnerable groups, like the elderly and immunocompromised, at greater risk of death.
Survey of India’s 9th-largest city finds COVID antibodies in 52% of the population | Naomi Xu Elegant | August 21, 2020 | FortuneHence, those richly priced FANMAGs, along with other rockets such as Tesla, are highly vulnerable to a steep fall.
The champ’s big comeback: Why beaten-down value stocks are poised to thrive | Shawn Tully | August 18, 2020 | Fortune
Social media forces us to not only be vulnerable for our partner but for the whole world.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating | Ellie Schaack | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTPlus, his known drug dealings certainly made him vulnerable to blackmail.
The Deal With Serial’s Jay? He’s Pissed Off, Mucks Up Our Timeline | Emily Shire | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe masterpiece is huge, but structurally flawed and terribly vulnerable to seismic activity.
They were individuals who were vulnerable to being recruited.
What the U.S. Can Learn from Europe About Dealing with Terrorists | Scott Beauchamp | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBiden remembered the boy was in a physically vulnerable position: “leaning down on one of those slanted counters.”
The elephant, as is well known, is easily vulnerable in one spot only,—the middle of the skull.
A Woman's Journey Round the World | Ida PfeifferIf she became emotional, was vulnerable in her feelings, I knew that Roscoe's peace might be assured.
Mrs. Falchion, Complete | Gilbert Parker"Just the other way," retorted Lorenza, delighted as angry persons are at having found the antagonist's vulnerable point.
Balsamo, The Magician | Alexander DumasEvery variety of danger was arising at once; the tempest was concentrated upon the vulnerable point; destruction was imminent.
Toilers of the Sea | Victor HugoFinally, the earlier is the warmer season with less danger to vulnerable feet and requiring a lighter equipment.
Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921 | Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury
British Dictionary definitions for vulnerable
/ (ˈvʌlnərəbəl) /
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
Origin of vulnerable
1Derived forms of vulnerable
- vulnerability or vulnerableness, noun
- vulnerably, adverb
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
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