vulnerable

/'vʌlnərəbl/

Thân thiện

A small child feels vulnerable during a thunderstorm.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of being physically or emotionally wounded or hurt: Describes someone or something that can be easily injured, damaged, or harmed.
   • Susceptible to criticism, persuasion, or temptation: Describes a person, argument, or position that is open to being influenced, criticized, or undermined.
   • Susceptible to attack: Describes something that is open to assault, danger, or exploitation due to a lack of adequate protection.

Usage Examples

• Capable of being wounded or hurt:
  • Young children are especially vulnerable to illness.
  • He felt vulnerable after sharing his personal feelings.
• Susceptible to criticism or persuasion:
  • The politician's outdated stance left him vulnerable to criticism from younger voters.
  • Her theory is vulnerable to refutation because it lacks solid evidence.
• Susceptible to attack:
  • The coastal town is vulnerable to hurricanes.
  • A computer system without a firewall is highly vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Advanced Usage

• "to be vulnerable to something": To be in a position where one is likely to be harmed or affected by a specific thing.
  • The infrastructure is vulnerable to extreme weather events.
• "in a vulnerable position/state": To be in a condition or situation where one is exposed to potential harm.
  • After the scandal, the company was in a vulnerable position financially.

Variants and Related Words

• Vulnerability (n): The state of being vulnerable; a specific weakness.
  • The audit revealed several security vulnerabilities in the network.
• Invulnerable (adj): Incapable of being wounded, damaged, or harmed.
  • The fortress was considered invulnerable to attack.

Synonyms

• Exposed: Left unprotected from harm or danger.
• Susceptible: Likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
• Defenseless: Lacking protection or the ability to defend oneself.

Antonyms

• Invulnerable: Impossible to harm or damage.
• Resilient: Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
• Protected: Kept safe from harm or injury.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Achilles' heel: A critical weakness or vulnerable point.
  • His pride was his Achilles' heel, making him vulnerable to manipulation.
• To lay/leave oneself open to: To make oneself vulnerable to something (e.g., criticism, attack).
  • By not preparing properly, she left herself open to criticism.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. capable of being wounded or hurt
   • vulnerable parts of the body
2. susceptible to criticism or persuasion or temptation
   • vulnerable to bribery
   • an argument vulnerable to refutation
3. susceptible to attack
   • a vulnerable bridge