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verb

past tense of expose
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective exposed contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of exposed are liable, open, prone, sensitive, subject, and susceptible. While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

When would liable be a good substitute for exposed?

The synonyms liable and exposed are sometimes interchangeable, but liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

When is open a more appropriate choice than exposed?

While in some cases nearly identical to exposed, open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

When might prone be a better fit than exposed?

Although the words prone and exposed have much in common, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

Where would sensitive be a reasonable alternative to exposed?

The words sensitive and exposed can be used in similar contexts, but sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

When is it sensible to use subject instead of exposed?

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

all reports are subject to review

When can susceptible be used instead of exposed?

The words susceptible and exposed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

Examples 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 exposed
Adjective
There are also styles that were purposely designed inside-out with exposed seams. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 17 Sep. 2024 Long, dangling outer lips: The outer lips are slightly large and contain thin and loose skin, causing the inner lips to be more exposed. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 13 Sep. 2024
Verb
Arthur shuffles out of his cell, seemingly more emaciated, all jutting shoulder bones on his exposed back. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024 Missouri has also identified a case in a patient who was not known to be exposed to animals. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for exposed 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exposed
Adjective
  • Notably, losing an hour of daylight can take a toll on people who are susceptible to seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that peaks during the darker winter months.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Camellias are also susceptible to a number of diseases, the most serious of which are flower blight, root rot, and camellia dieback and canker.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • For example, one of my clients used AI to analyze team dynamics and uncovered discrepancies in how mentorship opportunities were distributed.
    Izabela Lundberg, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
  • In July the company conducted an internal investigation and uncovered changes made to its menu creator system that rendered all of the menus unusable, the complaint said.
    John Towfighi, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The older trees themselves, more exposed in the landscape, could be more vulnerable to windstorms.
    April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Beijing, on the other hand, remains reliant on Taiwanese technology products for its manufacturing industry, meaning that China is now arguably more vulnerable to a disruption in cross-strait trade than Taiwan.
    David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • His Airness has been revealed as the mystery owner of the one-of-a-kind Pininfarina Battista Targamerica that was on display during this year’s Monterey Car Week.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Even with interruptions, a detailed assessment in simulation revealed a 96 percent success rate for ladder ascending.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • With their hearing about four times more sensitive than a human's, bees and other flying insects can wreak havoc on dogs.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of leaking sensitive information to two news outlets in the hopes of sabotaging a hostage deal with Hamas in a political scandal that has roiled Israeli politics.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The bare facts were that Aryna Sabalenka qualified for the last four of the WTA Finals at Riyadh on Monday by beating Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 7-5.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • People posted photos showing the bare mountain, some expressing surprise and others concerned over climate change.
    Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Players with player or team options in their contracts were fair game to be left unprotected, too.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
  • The new advice is to test anyone with a significant bird flu exposure, such as an unprotected worker who’s been splashed in the face with raw milk on a dairy farm with known H5N1 infections in the herds.
    Erika Edwards, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Researchers also have discovered a virus of fungi that appears to infect weaker strains of Bd — pathogens for the pathogen, in other words.
    Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
  • An officer on patrol who saw Harnish's truck parked on Route 5 and Riverdale Street discovered their bodies.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near exposed

Cite this Entry

“Exposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exposed. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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