Liable | Definition of liable by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of LIABLE

1

a : obligated according to law or equity : responsible

b : subject to appropriation or attachment

2

a : being in a position to incur —used with to <liable to a fine>

b : exposed or subject to some usually adverse contingency or action <watch out or you're liable to fall>

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Usage Discussion of LIABLE

Both liable and apt when followed by an infinitive are used nearly interchangeably with likely. Although conflicting advice has been given over the years, most current commentators accept apt when so used. They generally recommend limiting liable to situations having an undesirable outcome, and our evidence shows that in edited writing it is more often so used than not.

Origin of LIABLE

Middle English lyable, from Anglo-French *liable, from lier to bind, from Latin ligare — more at ligature

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to LIABLE

Synonyms: endangered, exposed, open, sensitive, subject (to), susceptible, vulnerable, at risk, in deep water, in jeopardy

Antonyms: insusceptible, invulnerable, unexposed, unsusceptible

Synonym Discussion of LIABLE

liable, open, exposed, subject, prone, susceptible, sensitive mean being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse. liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation <liable to get lost>. open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence <a claim open to question>. exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening <exposed to infection>. subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone <all reports are subject to review>. prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something <prone to delay>. susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable <very susceptible to flattery>. sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli <unduly sensitive to criticism>.

synonyms see in addition responsible

Both liable and apt when followed by an infinitive are used nearly interchangeably with likely. Although conflicting advice has been given over the years, most current commentators accept apt when so used. They generally recommend limiting liable to situations having an undesirable outcome, and our evidence shows that in edited writing it is more often so used than not.