vulnerable
adj/ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/ · /ˈvʌn(ə)ɹəbl̩/
Etymology From Late Latin vulnerābilis (“injurious, wounding”), from Latin vulnerō (“to wound”).
1
More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
- In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’1925, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, chapter 1, in The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1953, →ISBN:
- The elimination of [Roger] Federer after [Rafael] Nadal's loss to Lukas Rosol would have created mild panic among the fans of these gloriously gifted but now clearly vulnerable geniuses.2012 June 29, Kevin Mitchell, “Roger Federer back from Wimbledon 2012 brink to beat Julien Benneteau”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 Nov 2016:
2 more examples
- 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.2013 July 19, Mark Tran, “Denied an education by war”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 1:
- You are vulnerable to be bullied by someone at school.
2
Open to disclosing one's inner thoughts and feelings, acting in spite of one's instinct to self-preservation.
- It's okay to get vulnerable every now and again.
3
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences More likely to be exposed to malicious programs or viruses.
- a vulnerable PC with no antivirus software
4
Of a language or species at moderate risk of extinction though not quite endangered.
- Welsh is merely a vulnerable language, but Irish and Scottish Gaelic are definitely endangered.
- Synonyms
- defenceless, helpless, powerless, unguarded, unprotected, weak, woundable
- Antonyms
- durable, indomitable, invincible, invulnerable, powerful, strong
- Derived terms
- vulnerability, vulnerably