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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

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 exposed
Adjective
And, while the ball was mid-air, Zwolle’s attackers were to sprint to the penalty area to meet it on the way down and, ideally, stick it past an exposed goalkeeper. Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025 The ceiling appears damaged, with exposed beams, and the windows are now boarded up with plywood. Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
The company was dealt a major blow by a five-month data breach in 2023 that exposed the personal data of almost seven million customers. William Gavin, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2025 Last year, 23andMe agreed to pay $30 million in cash to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to protect customers whose personal information was exposed in this breach. Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exposed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exposed
Adjective
  • What's more, the researchers found that the mice on the WD plan were also more susceptible to Salmonella infections.
    Michael Franco May 11, New Atlas, 11 May 2025
  • This depends on the material, but faux leather is usually less susceptible to damage from steam.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Obscenity laws, most aggressively enforced by the U.S. Postal Service, attempted to keep that excitement within bounds—no uncovered or obviously aroused penises, no affectionate or suggestive physical contact.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
  • Another high-profile case linked to Moscow was the uncovered Armin Papperger, the head of the German concern Rheinmetall.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • They are expected to receive $86 million more in the coming years — potentially leaving more than half of the state's uncapped wells more vulnerable to incidents like the current spill in Garden Island Bay.
    Dan Ruetenik, CBS News, 5 May 2025
  • Relying too much on one leaves you vulnerable and at their mercy.
    Mark Minevich, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • The identity of a third victim who was hospitalized has not been revealed.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
  • To play, just make your selection in the multiple-choice list and the correct answer will be revealed.
    J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Trump administration – with Musk and his aides as the tip of the spear – have roiled the federal government with mass layoffs and demands for access to sensitive information at agencies including the Social Security Administration and the National Labor Relations Board.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • With uneasiness surrounding reports of electronic searches during border crossings, some travelers have opted to use burner phones—rather than bring their personal phones with them—to protect sensitive information.
    Iona Brannon, AFAR Media, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Individual leaves can be removed but this usually results in bare stems.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
  • Victories over Fulham and Everton were the bare minimum required to keep Chelsea’s top-five hopes alive, but beating Liverpool — even a less-than-peak Liverpool so soon after securing the Premier League title — last Sunday was a bigger statement.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Unintended access permissions or unprotected endpoints.
    Alexander Britkin, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • But there’s nothing to stop Miami from going to Charlotte and offering a 2032 unprotected first-rounder, plus cash, a second-rounder, a player (Jaime Jaquez Jr.?) and even a pick swap in exchange for giving Miami back its 2027 first-rounder.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • In 2024, more than 100,000 pounds of turkey kielbasa products were recalled after the product was discovered to have fragments of bone inside.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Foreign objects being discovered in food is a relatively rare recall reason, with more common reasons including bacterial or viral contamination or the presence of undeclared allergens.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exposed. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

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