vulnerable
Use the adjective vulnerable to describe something or someone open to being physically or emotionally wounded, like a newborn chick or an overly sensitive teenager.
Vulnerable is from Latin and is based on vulnus, "wound." From its literal meaning, it has come to be more often used for someone who is easily hurt or likely to succumb to temptation. It's best used for a person whose feelings are so delicate that they can't withstand any criticism or pressure: "Don't speak harshly to her, she's very vulnerable today."
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capable of being wounded or hurt“vulnerable parts of the body”
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Synonyms:
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weak
wanting in physical strength
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weak
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susceptible to attack“a vulnerable bridge”
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Synonyms:
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conquerable
subject to being conquered or overcome
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unprotected
lacking protection or defense
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dangerous, unsafe
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
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insecure, unsafe
lacking in security or safety
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susceptible
(often followed by `of' or `to') yielding readily to or capable of
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assailable, open, undefendable, undefended
not defended or capable of being defended
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compromising
vulnerable to danger especially of discredit or suspicion
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defenceless, defenseless
lacking protection or support
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endangered
(of flora or fauna) in imminent danger of extinction
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indefensible
not able to be protected against attack
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insecure, unsafe
not safe from attack
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penetrable
capable of being penetrated
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threatened
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
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under attack, under fire
subjected to enemy attack or censure
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unguarded
lacking protection or a guard
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Antonyms:
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invulnerable
immune to attack; impregnable
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unconquerable
not capable of being conquered or vanquished or overcome
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protected
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
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safe
free from danger or the risk of harm
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secure
free from danger or risk
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air-tight, airtight
having no weak points
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bombproof, shellproof
able to resist the explosive force of bombs and shells
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defendable, defensible
capable of being defended
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entrenched
dug in
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impregnable, inviolable, secure, strong, unassailable, unattackable
immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
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tight
set so close together as to be invulnerable to penetration
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sheltered
protected from danger or bad weather
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untouchable
beyond the reach of criticism or attack or impeachment
- show more antonyms...
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conquerable
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susceptible to criticism or persuasion or temptation“vulnerable to bribery”“an argument vulnerable to refutation”
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Synonyms:
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susceptible
(often followed by `of' or `to') yielding readily to or capable of
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susceptible
/ˈvəlnər(ə)bəl/
/ˈvəlnərəbəl/
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Vocabulary lists containing vulnerable
To seal their coven, keep their magic, and avoid being turned into toads, twelve-year-old Seven Salazar of Ravenskill must work with the bully Valley Pepperhorn and the new girl Thorn Laroux to defeat the Nightbeast.
After his grandmother buys him a lawnmower for his birthday, a 12-year-old boy turns his mowing earnings into a corporate empire and sponsorship of a heavyweight boxer named Joey Pow.
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