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susceptible

adjective
sus·​cep·​ti·​ble | \ sÉ™-ˈsep-tÉ™-bÉ™l How to pronounce susceptible (audio) \

Definition of susceptible

1 : capable of submitting to an action, process, or operation a theory susceptible to proof
2 : open, subject, or unresistant to some stimulus, influence, or agency susceptible to pneumonia
3 : impressionable, responsive a susceptible mind
Other Words from susceptible Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about susceptible

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Other Words from susceptible

susceptibleness noun
susceptibly \ sÉ™-​ˈsep-​tÉ™-​blÄ“ How to pronounce susceptibly (audio) \ adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for susceptible

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

Examples of susceptible in a Sentence

Researchers at the University of South Carolina say that a chemical found abundantly in red wine, apples and onions helps protect against influenza, especially after a rigorous respiratory workout, when the body is more susceptible to infection. — Kim Marcus et al., Wine Spectator, 31 May 2009 Women were especially susceptible to his … charm, and he maintained dozens of relationships simultaneously. When he was finally being tried for his crimes, 20 women sat together in the courthouse's public galleries, weeping: mistresses, lovers and admirers, all convinced of Unterweger's innocence. — Robert MacFarlane, New York Times Book Review, 13 Jan. 2008 He grew up during the heyday of the Hegelian philosophy, which sought to explain all things in terms of historical development, but conceived this process as being ultimately not susceptible to the methods of empirical investigation. — Isaiah Berlin, The Hedgehog and the Fox, (1953) 1978 The virus can infect susceptible individuals. some people are more susceptible to depression during the winter because of reduced exposure to sunlight
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Recent Examples on the Web

 User-behavior analysis is dependent on access to personal data, which in turn is susceptible to breaches or being misused, as Cambridge Analytica did. — Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, "MIT has a plan to measure the impact of 2016 election interference," 7 Sep. 2019 Just two days ago, Warner said about 300 locations were in the storm's path, and 99 of them were susceptible to damage. — Scottie Andrew, CNN, "How Waffle House became an unofficial authority for disaster-affected areas," 4 Sep. 2019 Even health-care providers are susceptible to these beliefs. — Dara T. Mathis, SELF, "We Need to Stop Acting Like Vasectomies Are Heroic," 29 Aug. 2019 In addition to horses, llamas and alpacas are know to be susceptible to EEE, as well as emus, ostriches, and some non-native species of game birds like pheasants and quail. — Jaclyn Reiss, BostonGlobe.com, "What you need to know about EEE in Mass.," 29 Aug. 2019 Moreover, as Alexis de Tocqueville saw, that daily participation in local governance can help ward off the tendencies toward atomism and technocracy to which modern democracy is susceptible. — Fred Bauer, National Review, "What the Nationalism vs. Liberalism Debate Misses," 28 Aug. 2019 Phlox are susceptible to several fungal diseases that start at the bottom and move upwards, such as powdery mildew or leaf spots. — Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, "Garden Q&A: The very hungry caterpillars and protecting the phlox," 15 Aug. 2019 Plus, due to their incredibly small size, the electrodes themselves are susceptible to damage. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Elon Musk’s Neuralink: Both an evolution and a plan for radical change," 13 Aug. 2019 But while Scott was governor, the state itself did little to plan for such looming threats, in spite of the fact that Scott himself owns a waterfront home that would be susceptible to rising seas. — Craig Pittman, sun-sentinel.com, "Florida’s new resilience officer doesn’t shy away from saying ‘climate change’," 9 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'susceptible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of susceptible

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for susceptible

Late Latin susceptibilis, from Latin susceptus, past participle of suscipere to take up, admit, from sub-, sus- up + capere to take — more at sub-, heave

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More Definitions for susceptible

susceptible

adjective
How to pronounce susceptible (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of susceptible

: easily affected, influenced, or harmed by something
formal : capable of being affected by a specified action or process

See the full definition for susceptible in the English Language Learners Dictionary

susceptible

adjective
sus·​cep·​ti·​ble | \ sÉ™-ˈsep-tÉ™-bÉ™l How to pronounce susceptible (audio) \

Kids Definition of susceptible

1 : of such a nature as to permit The words are susceptible of being misunderstood.
2 : having little resistance (as to infection or damage) I am susceptible to colds.
3 : easily affected or impressed by You're so susceptible to flattery.

susceptible

adjective
sus·​cep·​ti·​ble | \ sÉ™-ˈsep-tÉ™-bÉ™l

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