Vulnerable
/ˈvʌlnərəbəl/
Definitions
Capable of being wounded or hurt; open to attack or damage.
/ˈvʌlnərəbəl/
Susceptible to harm or attack
The soldiers were vulnerable to enemy fire.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're wearing a thin t-shirt in the middle of winter. You'd be really vulnerable to the cold, right? It's like that – something or someone that's easily hurt or at risk.
👶 For kids: Being vulnerable means being easy to get hurt or feel sad. Like, if you're not wearing a coat in the winter, you're vulnerable to the cold!
More Examples
Children are more vulnerable to certain illnesses.
The company's financial situation made it vulnerable to takeover bids.
How It's Used
"The elderly are often more vulnerable to infections."
"The company's website had a critical security vulnerability."
"She felt vulnerable after the breakup."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Vulnerable species
A species that is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances that are threatening its survival and reproduction improve.
"The WWF works to protect vulnerable species like the Amur leopard."
From Latin *vulnerabilis* meaning 'that can be wounded,' from *vulnus* 'wound'. The word entered English in the early 17th century.
Historically, the word was often used in military contexts to describe positions or forces open to attack.
Memory tip
Imagine a person without armor; they are vulnerable to attack.
Word Origin
"wound"