vulnerable
adjective
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The History of Vulnerable
Superheroes are often depicted in comic books and movies as all-powerful, deflecting boulders and missiles in mid-air with a flick of the wrist, walking through walls, and having indestructible skeletons and whatnot. Fans know, however, that even the mightiest, meatiest protagonist is vulnerable to something, be it kryptonite or forgetting the whereabouts of one’s hammer. Vulnerable ultimately comes from the Latin noun vulnus, meaning “wound,” by way of the Late Latin adjective vulnerabilis, which English speakers adopted as vulnerable in the early 1600s. Vulnerable continues to carry its original meaning of “capable of being physically wounded,” but since the late 1600s it has also been used figuratively to suggest a defenselessness against non-physical attacks. In other words, someone (or something) can be vulnerable to criticism or failure as well as to literal wounding—even superheroes. So don’t go breaking their hearts, even if you can’t break their bones.
Synonyms
Examples of vulnerable in a Sentence
Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
As is the case with most illnesses, older people and those with serious health conditions have always been the most vulnerable to dying from COVID-19.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
The justification for a tactical tweak has grown stronger with every passing week, partly because of form but considering the positions Villa are vulnerable in also adds weight to the case for change.
—Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
Johnson wants to change the mindset that only LGBT folks are vulnerable.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near vulnerable
Cite this Entry
“Vulnerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vulnerable. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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vulnerable
adjective
Medical Definition
vulnerable
adjective
The Journal of the American Medical Association
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