Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Vulnerable
Vul′ner-a-ble
,Adj.
[L.
vulnerabilis
wounding, injurious, from vulnerare
to wound, vulnus
a wound; akin to Skr. vra[GREEK]a
: cf. F. vulnérable
.] 1.
Capable of being wounded; susceptible of wounds or external injuries;
as, a
. vulnerable
bodyAchilles was
vulnerable
in his heel; and there will be wanting a Paris to infix the dart. Dr. T. Dwight.
2.
Liable to injury; subject to be affected injuriously; assailable;
as, a
. vulnerable
reputationHis skill in finding out the
vulnerable
parts of strong minds was consummate. Macaulay.
Webster 1828 Edition
Vulnerable
VULNERABLE
, a.1.
That may be wounded; susceptible of wounds or external injuries; as a vulnerable body.Achilles was vulnerable in his heel; and there will never be wanting a Paris to infix the dart.
2.
Liable to injury; subject to be affected injuriously; as a vulnerable reputation.Definition 2025
vulnerable
vulnerable
See also: vulnérable
English
Adjective
vulnerable (comparative more vulnerable, superlative most vulnerable)
- More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
- 2012 June 29, Kevin Mitchell, “Roger Federer back from Wimbledon 2012 brink to beat Julien Benneteau”, in the Guardian:
- The elimination of Federer after Nadal's loss to Lukas Rosol would have created mild panic among the fans of these gloriously gifted but now clearly vulnerable geniuses.
- 2013 July 19, Mark Tran, “Denied an education by war”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 1:
- One particularly damaging, but often ignored, effect of conflict on education is the proliferation of attacks on schools […] as children, teachers or school buildings become the targets of attacks. Parents fear sending their children to school. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence.
- "You are vulnerable to be bullied by someone at school."
-
- (computing) More likely to be exposed to malicious programs or viruses.
- a vulnerable PC with no antivirus software
Synonyms
- (exposed to attack): defenceless, helpless, powerless, unguarded, unprotected, weak
Antonyms
- (exposed to attack): durable, indomitable, invincible, invulnerable, powerful, strong
Derived terms
Translations
exposed to attack
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Galician
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Late Latin vulnerābilis, from Latin vulnerō (“I wound”).
Adjective
vulnerable m, f (plural vulnerables)
Related terms
Spanish
Etymology
From Late Latin vulnerābilis, from Latin vulnerō (“I wound”).
Adjective
vulnerable m, f (plural vulnerables)