susceptible

/səˈsɛptəbəl/

Say it: suh-SEP-tuh-bull

1. adjective Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Young children are particularly susceptible to infections.
2. adjective Capable of or admitting of a particular treatment or interpretation.
The evidence is susceptible of a different explanation.
3. adjective Easily affected by feelings or emotions; sensitive.
He was a susceptible and romantic young man.

📖 Seen in the wild

Young children are often more susceptible to colds and flu than adults.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ susceptible in a sentence

The company's network is highly susceptible to cyberattacks.
Because of his insecurity, he was susceptible to flattery.
The new policy is susceptible of being misunderstood by the public.
Some people are genetically more susceptible to certain diseases.
The coastal town is susceptible to flooding during hurricane season.
Her argument, while clever, was susceptible of proof.
He had a susceptible nature, easily moved to tears by a sad story.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

vulnerable prone liable impressionable exposed sensitive open subject to

vulnerable · implies a state of weakness or being open to physical or emotional attack.

prone · suggests a natural, often habitual, tendency toward something negative.

liable · often implies a risk or probability, sometimes with legal or financial consequences.

impressionable · specifically refers to being easily influenced by others' opinions or actions.

Opposites: resistant, immune, invulnerable, insusceptible

🌱 Where it comes from

The word comes from the Late Latin 'susceptibilis', meaning 'capable' or 'sensitive', which itself derives from 'suscipere', meaning 'to take up' or 'receive'. This root idea of 'taking in' something from the outside, whether an illness, an idea, or an emotion, is still at the core of the word's meaning today.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

susceptible to infectionsusceptible to influencesusceptible to damagehighly susceptiblegenetically susceptibleparticularly susceptible

Pay close attention to the preposition that follows. 'Susceptible to' is the most common pairing, used when a person or thing is affected by an outside force (e.g., 'susceptible to colds'). 'Susceptible of' is more formal and less common; it means 'capable of' or 'admitting' (e.g., 'a law susceptible of two interpretations'). Using 'of' where 'to' is expected can sound overly formal or incorrect.

Word family: susceptibility, insusceptible

💬 Quick answers

What does susceptible mean?

It means likely to be influenced, harmed, or affected by something. For example, someone might be susceptible to the flu or susceptible to persuasion.

What's the difference between susceptible and vulnerable?

Susceptible suggests a general likelihood of being affected, while vulnerable implies a specific weakness or state of being open to attack. A person is susceptible to colds (a tendency), but they are vulnerable after surgery (a temporary, defenseless state).

How do you use 'susceptible to' vs 'susceptible of'?

Use 'susceptible to' when something can affect you, like being 'susceptible to criticism'. Use the more formal 'susceptible of' when something is capable of being understood or acted upon in a certain way, like a problem being 'susceptible of a solution'.

Is susceptible a negative word?

It often has a negative connotation because it implies a weakness or lack of resistance. However, it can be neutral in formal contexts, such as a statement being 'susceptible of interpretation'.

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