vulnerable
UK: ˈvʌlnərəbl | US: ˈvʌlnərəbl
adj. capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
adj. open to attack or damage; defenseless
adj. (of a person) in need of special care or support due to age, illness, or disability
The word traces back to Late Latin vulnerabilis, combining vulnus (wound) with -abilis (ability). It originally described susceptibility to physical injury, later expanding to emotional and metaphorical fragility. The root vulnus also appears in "vulnerary" (wound-healing) and reflects Indo-European wele- (to strike).
The system is vulnerable to cyberattacks without proper encryption.
Children are especially vulnerable to misinformation.
His apology revealed a vulnerable side of his personality.
Coastal cities are vulnerable to rising sea levels.
The patient’s immune system made him vulnerable to infections.