vulnerable

[ vuhl-ner-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of or susceptible to being attacked, damaged, or hurt:

   a vulnerable part of the body;

   vulnerable to predators;

   a company vulnerable to a hostile takeover.

2. open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc.:

   That is an argument vulnerable to refutation.

   He is vulnerable to bribery.

3. (of a place) open to assault; difficult to defend:

   a vulnerable bridge.

4. willing to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known:

   Men and boys are rarely seen as vulnerable.

5. (of a person or population) needing supportive or protective social services and community resources because of advanced age, poverty, disability, etc.
6. Bridge. having won one of the games of a rubber.
7. Biology, Ecology. (of a threatened plant or animal species) likely to be classified endangered in the near future unless circumstances that threaten reproduction and survival improve, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: : VU

   At least 15 percent of our vulnerable reptiles are turtles.

vulnerable

/ ˈvʌlnərəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being physically or emotionally wounded or hurt
2. open to temptation, persuasion, censure, etc
3. liable or exposed to disease, disaster, etc
4. military liable or exposed to attack
5. bridge (of a side who have won one game towards rubber) subject to increased bonuses or penalties

Derived Forms

• ˈvulnerably, adverb
• ˌvulneraˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• vul·ner·a·bil·i·ty [vuhl-ner-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], vul·ner·a·ble·ness noun
• vul·ner·a·bly adverb
• un·vul·ner·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulnerable¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Late Latin vulnerābilis “injurious, wounding,” equivalent to Latin vulnerā(re) “to wound” + -bilis; -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulnerable¹

C17: from Late Latin vulnerābilis, from Latin vulnerāre to wound, from vulnus a wound

Example Sentences

They focus specifically on urbanising river deltas, which are of great social and economic importance and highly vulnerable to climate change.

From Science Daily

For a clearer example of this difference - of how Tielemans’ style stretches Villa more, making them vulnerable to disjointed passing or end-to-end games – take a look at a typical pass map for both players below:

From BBC

Forests with few tree species pose considerably higher risk of being damaged and especially vulnerable is the introduced lodgepole pine.

From Science Daily

However, they are also among its most vulnerable, with areas of coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass beds under increasing threat from a wide range of human activities.

From Science Daily

It’s a very intimate, vulnerable thing to be able to do with another person, which is to sing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accessible
• defenseless
• exposed
• liable
• ready
• sensitive
• susceptible
• unsafe
• weak