adjective
liable
Likely to experience or do something undesirable.
The old pipes are liable to freeze on cold nights.
Etymology
Liable is connected with being bound or subject to something. The likelihood sense treats a person as exposed to a possible outcome, often an undesirable one.
More examples
- I'm liable to forget your address unless I write it down.
- Without enough sleep, she is liable to make mistakes.
- Small errors are liable to cause bigger problems later.
Forms
liable · more liable · most liable
Similar words
- prone
- Suggests a recurring tendency, especially toward problems or mistakes.
- susceptible
- Emphasizes vulnerability to harm or influence rather than likely behavior.
- likely
- Expresses probability without suggesting that the outcome is undesirable.