vulnerability
/,vʌlnərə'biliti/
Definition
- Noun:
- Susceptibility to injury or attack: The quality or state of being easily hurt, harmed, or attacked, either physically or emotionally.
- The state of being vulnerable or exposed: A condition of being open to danger, criticism, or other negative consequences due to a lack of protection.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The system's vulnerability to cyber attacks was a major concern for the company.
- Sharing her fears was an act of great emotional vulnerability.
- The coastal city's vulnerability to hurricanes prompted new building codes.
Advanced Usage
- "To exploit a vulnerability": To take advantage of a weakness or flaw.
- Hackers often look to exploit a software vulnerability.
- "A point of vulnerability": A specific area or aspect that is weak or exposed.
- The unguarded rear entrance was a point of vulnerability for the building.
Variants and Related Words
- Vulnerable (adjective): Capable of being physically or emotionally wounded; open to attack or damage.
- Elderly people are often more vulnerable to severe illness.
- Invulnerability (noun): The quality of being impossible to harm or damage.
- The hero's apparent invulnerability made him overconfident.
Synonyms
- Susceptibility: The state of being likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
- Exposure: The state of having no protection from something harmful.
- Weakness: A flaw or deficient area.
Related Phrases
- Security vulnerability (noun phrase): A flaw in a system that can be exploited to violate security policies.
- The IT team patched a critical security vulnerability.
- Vulnerability assessment (noun phrase): The process of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing vulnerabilities in a system.
- The bank conducts an annual vulnerability assessment.
Related Idioms
- Achilles' heel: A critical weakness or vulnerable point.
- His pride was his Achilles' heel, his greatest vulnerability.
Noun
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susceptibility to injury or attack
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the state of being vulnerable or exposed
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his vulnerability to litigation
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his exposure to ridicule
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