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vulnerable Definition

vul·ner·able (vul′nər ə bəl)

adjective

  1. 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
  3. open to attack by armed forces
  4. Bridge liable to increased penalties and entitled to increased bonuses: said of a team which has won one game

Etymology: 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

vulnerable Related Forms
vul′·ner·abil′·ity noun vul′·ner·ably adverb
vulnerable Synonyms

vulnerable

modif.

unprotected, helpless, defenseless, exposed, assailable; see also unsafe, weak 2, 5.

vulnerable Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • leave: Anything less leaves everyone vulnerable to the whims of others.

Modifies a noun

  • adult: Creating a new offense of familial homicide for causing or allowing the death of child or vulnerable adult.
  • household: The team also administers the private sector assistance policies to other vulnerable households in need.
  • witness: The Act aims to improve conditions for vulnerable witnesses.
  • people: We have not cut our ability to visit vulnerable people in our City Care system.
  • group: We note the proposal to set up a new working group on the specific needs of vulnerable groups.
  • consumer: With their help we are now seeing fewer vulnerable consumers facing the drastic measure of being cut off from their energy supplies.

Modifying Another Word

  • particularly: The elderly are particularly vulnerable to the sedative effects of these drugs.
  • especially: Is there a particular type of person that is especially vulnerable to psychological problems?
  • financially: Benefits are for those who are most financially vulnerable in society and will be assessed and paid within Government guidelines and the relevant legislation.
  • potentially: There are difficulties involved in studying a potentially vulnerable group within a conflict situation.

Infinitive complement

  • attack: Walmer Castle Following Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church, England's shores were vulnerable to attack from across the English Channel.
  • frost: The stones are very vulnerable to frost damage in winter and are therefore boxed from October to May.

Used with adjective complement

  • feel: I can't help feeling somewhat vulnerable in this respect myself.
  • remain: After withdrawal patients remain vulnerable to stress for at least 6 months.
  • appear: They need to be especially careful with young people who appear particularly vulnerable.
  • become: The shift toward leaner supply networks during recent years has resulted in these networks becoming more vulnerable.
  • prove: Participants proved vulnerable across the board to phishing attacks.

Preposition: in

  • society: At stake is the quality of public services for ordinary people - and for the most vulnerable in society.
vulnerable Quotes

[She] has several skins fewer than any other human being†a kind of psychological haemophilia, which is one reason why she writes so well, and why she is so vulnerable.

—Curran, Charles

Jazz musicians are not demigods. Theyare warm, vulnerablehumanbeings with a desperateneedtogo on paying the rent.

—Turner, Bruce