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vulnerable

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The definition of vulnerable is easily hurt or delicate.

(adjective)

An example of vulnerable is an animal with no protection from its prey.
An example of vulnerable is a person who is easily hurt by criticism at work.
An example of vulnerable is a military base with limited defenses.

See vulnerable in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

that can be wounded or physically injured
1. open to criticism or attack: a vulnerable reputation
2. easily hurt, as by adverse criticism; sensitive
3. affected by a specified influence, temptation, etc.: vulnerable to political pressure
open to attack by armed forces
Bridge liable to increased penalties and entitled to increased bonuses: said of a team which has won one game

Origin: LL vulnerabilis, wounding, likely to injure (also, in pass. sense, vulnerable) < L vulnerare, to wound < vulnus (gen. vulneris), a wound < IE base *wel- > L vellere: see revulsion

Related Forms:

vulnerability noun
vulnerably adverb

See vulnerable in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

a. Susceptible to physical or emotional injury.
b. Susceptible to attack: “We are vulnerable both by water and land, without either fleet or army” (Alexander Hamilton).
c. Open to censure or criticism; assailable.
a. Liable to succumb, as to persuasion or temptation.
b. Games In a position to receive greater penalties or bonuses in a hand of bridge. In a rubber, used of the pair of players who score 100 points toward game.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin vulnerābilis, wounding

Origin: , from Latin vulnerāre, to wound

Origin: , from vulnus, vulner-, wound; see welə- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: