1
as in susceptible
being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm
I'm vulnerable to sunburn whenever I go out in the sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpless
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack
vulnerable baby chicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 vulnerable
The study, the fourth in the series, is yet another reminder of the ongoing effort to tailor emergency preparedness and response plans to the needs of vulnerable groups such as immigrants, the poor, the elderly and people with disabilities.
—
Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025
The agency has warned that vinyl fences are not as vulnerable to embers but can catch fire when exposed to direct flames.
—Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2025
This needs openness, inner strength, and a willingness to be vulnerable.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Freezing temperatures may present health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as infants and older adults Snow can disrupt travel and lead to hazardous driving conditions.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vulnerable 
Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025
The agency has warned that vinyl fences are not as vulnerable to embers but can catch fire when exposed to direct flames.
—Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2025
This needs openness, inner strength, and a willingness to be vulnerable.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Freezing temperatures may present health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as infants and older adults Snow can disrupt travel and lead to hazardous driving conditions.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vulnerable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulnerable
Adjective
-
Active ETFs, which trade in real-time, are also more susceptible to market swings unlike mutual funds which price once a day, Nicholson added.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2025
-
The latest development raises concerns about whether dairy cows may be more susceptible to the bird flu, which would increase the risk of cow-to-human transmission.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Most Popular Most Popular As Liam McNeeley carries UConn men, Dan Hurley calls for ‘reinvention’ as rest of his team struggles A CT woman felt helpless as her dad screamed in pain.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Gustavsson was equally helpless against Brad Marchand later in the first.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
State of play: Immigration officials can raid churches and schools to arrest undocumented immigrants after the Trump administration scrapped a policy that protected sensitive spaces, Axios' April Rubin writes.—
Alex Golden,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
-
What To Know Engelmayer is responsible for a Saturday ruling that blocked Musk and his DOGE allies from accessing sensitive Treasury records.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
That would have netted the Hornets an unprotected 2031 pick, a 2030 swap and Dalton Knecht for a talented but oft-injured center.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
-
With the trade being voided, rookie wing Dalton Knecht, veteran wing Cam Reddish and their 2031 unprotected first-round draft pick will return to the Lakers.—
Khobi Price,
Orange County Register,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The story sounds like something right out of a horror movie: this fungus hacks the brain of its host, driving the normally shy spiders out of their lairs and webs to an exposed surface.—
Michael Irving,
New Atlas,
2 Feb. 2025
-
Zuckerberg has just recently emerged from his own masculinist makeover, which turned him from a pale coder to a buff and bronzed bro, and his openly suggestive glance at Sanchez’s exposed chest seemed like an appropriate capstone to Trump’s Inaugural Address.—
Naomi Fry,
The New Yorker,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Between the lines: As Axios' Neil Irwin notes, sovereign wealth funds are by their nature prone to suggestions of cronyism, even if the behavior is entirely legal.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
6 Feb. 2025
-
People who are in and out of hospitals, homeless shelters, prisons and jails are more prone to contracting tuberculosis, Chin-Hong said.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacramento Bee,
5 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near vulnerable
Cite this Entry
“Vulnerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulnerable. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share