SUSCEPTIBLE Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'susceptible' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of susceptible are exposed , liable , open , prone , sensitive , and subject . While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable. // very susceptible to flattery

Q: When might 'exposed' be a better fit than 'susceptible'?

While in some cases nearly identical to susceptible , exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening. // exposed to infection

Q: When can 'liable' be used instead of 'susceptible'?

Although the words liable and susceptible have much in common, liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation. // liable to get lost

Q: When could 'open' be used to replace 'susceptible'?

In some situations, the words open and susceptible are roughly equivalent. However, open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence. // a claim open to question

Q: When would 'prone' be a good substitute for 'susceptible'?

The words prone and susceptible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something. // prone to delay

Q: In what contexts can 'sensitive' take the place of 'susceptible'?

While the synonyms sensitive and susceptible are close in meaning, sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli. // unduly sensitive to criticism

Q: Where would 'subject' be a reasonable alternative to 'susceptible'?

The meanings of subject and susceptible largely overlap; however, subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone. // all reports are subject to review

susceptible

adjective

sə-ˈsep-tə-bəl

Definition of susceptible

as in vulnerable

being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm some people are more susceptible to depression during the winter because of reduced exposure to sunlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in helpless

lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack completely susceptible and totally defenseless against the imploring eyes of the puppy in the pet store

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in naive

readily taken advantage of having recently lost his job, he was more susceptible to the illusory promises of get-rich-quick schemes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective susceptible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of susceptible are exposed, liable, open, prone, sensitive, and subject. While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

When might exposed be a better fit than susceptible?

While in some cases nearly identical to susceptible, exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

When can liable be used instead of susceptible?

Although the words liable and susceptible have much in common, liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

When could open be used to replace susceptible?

In some situations, the words open and susceptible are roughly equivalent. However, open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

When would prone be a good substitute for susceptible?

The words prone and susceptible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

In what contexts can sensitive take the place of susceptible?

While the synonyms sensitive and susceptible are close in meaning, sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

Where would subject be a reasonable alternative to susceptible?

The meanings of subject and susceptible largely overlap; however, subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of susceptible Areas that experienced significant flooding from Lala will be especially susceptible to new flooding, even with lower rainfall amounts than previously experienced, AccuWeather said. — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 In fact there are a number of herbs, vitamins, and prescription medications that can make your skin especially susceptible to sunburn, including some SSRIs, hypertension medications, and cholesterol-lowering medications. — Diana Helmuth, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026 Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 Tilling can further break down soil aggregates, making the soil more susceptible to crusting in the future. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for susceptible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for susceptible

Adjective

The song is written as a conversation with that mythic other woman, who Parton confronts here in a way that manages to come across as both extremely vulnerable and drawing on a huge reserve of strength.

— Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
For someone vulnerable to an eating disorder, [pressure] from social media, celebrity images, or the growing visibility of GLP-1 medications can reinforce restriction and the belief that their body is somehow not small enough.

— Marti Noxon, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of vulnerable

Adjective

Muslims who are peace-loving and helpless also need a hand up.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Yes, there were moments of humor, such as getting magic potions around the campfire at the end of each stage by whacking helpless little elves, but most of it was played straight, to great effect.

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of helpless

Adjective

Only the most naïve of lawmakers believe there won’t be consequences to taxpayers that will lead to their constituents paying more taxes.

— Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.

— Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of naive

Adjective

Those could include remote sensors, autonomous underwater vehicles and other equipment that requires persistent, low-visibility power in remote and sensitive offshore and coastal environments, as well as power resiliency for forward military bases.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Musk’s officials infiltrated department after department, canceling contracts, firing employees, viewing sensitive data, and kneecapping programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as foreign aid.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of sensitive

Adjective

In the current setup, teams select players that other teams leave unprotected and then must carry that player on their big-league roster for a full year.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Splitting the shot up decreases vaccination rates and leaves children unprotected over a longer period, experts say.

— Zac Anderson, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of unprotected

Adjective

Morgan Stanley said Equinix and Digital Realty are less exposed because their facilities average roughly 5 to 10 megawatts, far below the gigawatt-scale AI campuses planned by hyperscalers and neocloud operators.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
The fact that my life is so exposed is incredibly complex for me.

— Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of exposed

Adjective

The more important question is whether a vulnerability is reachable and actively exploitable within the application itself.

— Varun Badhwar, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Between 10 and 12 African countries have commercially exploitable reserves of lithium, and 15 to 20 have commercially exploitable deposits of rare earths.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of exploitable

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“Susceptible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/susceptible. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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