vulnerable

adjective

vul·​ner·​a·​ble ˈvəl-n(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˈvəl-nər-bəl

1

: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded

2

: open to attack or damage : assailable

vulnerable to criticism

3

: liable to increased penalties but entitled to increased bonuses after winning a game in contract bridge

vulnerability

ˌvəl-n(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

vulnerableness

ˈvəl-n(ə-)rə-bəl-nəs 

ˈvəl-nər-bəl-

noun

vulnerably

ˈvəl-n(ə-)rə-blē 

ˈvəl-nər-blē

adverb

Did you know?

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

• endangered
• exposed
• liable
• open
• sensitive
• subject (to)
• susceptible

Examples of vulnerable in a Sentence

He was very vulnerable after his divorce.

The troops were in a vulnerable position.

The fort was undefended and vulnerable.

Recent Examples on the Web

Any monetary system, including our current fiat arrangement, is vulnerable to manipulation. —Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

In the message sent at 2 a.m., Baldoni apologized and also thanked Lively for being vulnerable with him. —Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile, advocates are watching closely, concerned that the wrong move could result in a fallout that decimates Connecticut’s paltry infant and toddler care system, supports too-few households, or depends on a source of money that is vulnerable to shifting economic winds. —Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025

But changes wouldn't guarantee that the most vulnerable patients would be spared from future insurance denials or the complex appeals process set up by insurers. —Lauren Sausser, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin vulnerabilis, from Latin vulnerare to wound, from vulner-, vulnus wound; probably akin to Latin vellere to pluck, Greek oulē wound

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for vulnerable

• invulnerable

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Kids Definition

vulnerable

adjective

vul·​ner·​a·​ble ˈvəln-(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˈvəl-nər-bəl

1

: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded

2

: open to attack or damage

a vulnerable position

vulnerability

ˌvəln-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

vulnerable

adjective

vul·​ner·​a·​ble ˈvəln-(ə-)rə-bəl, ˈvəl-nər-bəl 

: capable of being hurt : susceptible to injury or disease

the liver is itself vulnerable to nutritional impairment

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

vulnerability

ˌvəln-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural vulnerabilities