vulnerability — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The state of being vulnerable; susceptibility to attack or injury, either physical or emotional; the state or condition of being weak or poorly defended.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   vulnerablenessweakness

   Antonyms

   invulnerability

   Examples

   Near-synonym: weakness

   The country recognized their defence vulnerability after an airplane landed in front of the central square without any consequences.

   More examples (3)

   The only disadvantage of timber snow fencing is its extreme vulnerability to fire.

   Though scientists do not know how stress affects gestation, Fukuda theorizes that the vulnerability of Y-bearing sperm cells, male embryos and/or male fetuses to stress is why “subtle significant changes in sex ratios” occur.

   Again, voice change is not easy and vulnerability plays a big part, but if choral teachers and adolescent singers approach it with the right mindframe, the experience can be empowering, enlightening, and restorative for all involved.

2. A specific weakness in the protections or defences that (literally or figuratively) surround someone or something.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Synonyms

   flawweaknessliability

   Examples

   Near-synonyms: flaw, weakness, liability

3. A specific weakness in the protections or defences that (literally or figuratively) surround someone or something. A weakness which allows an attacker to reduce a system's security.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   vuln

   Examples

   Experts told CNN it could take weeks to address the vulnerabilities and that suspected Chinese hackers are already attempting to exploit it.

Noun

1. the state of being vulnerable or exposed

   Synonyms

   exposure

   Broader terms

   danger

   Examples

   his vulnerability to litigation

   his exposure to ridicule

2. susceptibility to injury or attack

   Antonyms

   invulnerability

   Broader terms

   weakness