Synonyms of accountable

accountable

adjective

ə-ˈkau̇n-tə-bəl 

as in responsible

being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so

the owner was held accountable for his dog's biting of the child

Synonyms & Similar Words

• responsible
• liable
• answerable
• amenable
• indebted
• obligated
• beholden
• obliged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• irresponsible
• unaccountable
• exempt
• immune
• nonaccountable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective accountable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of accountable are amenable, answerable, liable, and responsible. While all these words mean "subject to being held to account," accountable suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or violated obligation.

elected officials are accountable to the voters

How do amenable and liable relate to one another, in the sense of accountable?

Both amenable and liable stress the fact of subjection to review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain conditions.

laws are amenable to judicial review

not liable for the debts of the former spouse

When is answerable a more appropriate choice than accountable?

While in some cases nearly identical to accountable, answerable suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance.

an intelligence agency answerable to Congress

When would responsible be a good substitute for accountable?

The words responsible and accountable can be used in similar contexts, but responsible implies holding a specific office, duty, or trust.

the bureau responsible for revenue collection

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of accountable

Themes emerged from these community meetings, including concerns about drinking water quality and a desire to hold waterway polluters accountable, according to a report from the National Wildlife Federation and Ohio River Basin Alliance. —Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 17 Dec. 2024

The victory for Connolly, who is 74 years old and battling esophageal cancer, will put him on the frontlines in the Democratic efforts to hold Trump accountable in his second term. —Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024

Massachusetts officials repeatedly failed to hold Steward Health Care accountable for regulatory violations for over a decade, contributing to the hospital chain's eventual collapse and undermining parts of the state's health care system. —Mike Deehan, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024

The Trump ally has vowed to hold media figures accountable through criminal or civil proceedings. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024