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2
as in responsibility
the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right the liability for the accident is held by the person who was driving too fast

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3
as in exposure
the state of being left without shelter or protection against something harmful failure to properly clean the wound could increase your liability to infection

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in debt
usually liabilities plural something (as money) which is owed your liabilities total about $200,000

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of liability Its balance sheet remains rock-solid with $111 billion in total assets compared to $32 billion in total liabilities in its 2025 fiscal year. Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 July 2025 Another group that may not benefit from the deduction is lower-income filers who might not have enough income tax liability to take the deduction against. Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 9 July 2025 The civil settlement is not an admission of guilt or liability. Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 8 July 2025 Without it, the very leaders trusted with sustaining growth risk becoming liabilities themselves. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for liability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liability
Noun
  • Walking away entirely from UNEP would put us at a disadvantage.
    Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Some of the female immune advantage may be male immune disadvantage, and while it’s accepted that hormones affect immunity, determining to what degree is an ongoing research question.
    Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • But the water that none of us can live without is everyday kindness and responsibility.
    Pico Iyer, Time, 5 July 2025
  • For the generation currently between 13 and 28 years old, better known as Gen-Z, Trump’s policy bill represents a shift in retirement policy that places more responsibility on the individual.
    Alejandra Rojas, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Residents are advised to take precautions to avoid exposure to the plague, including using flea treatment on pets and avoiding contact with wild animals.
    Catherine Reagor, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025
  • Give yourself salon-quality blowouts at home with the help of the coveted Dyson Airwrap, a clever gadget that can dry and style your hair in one speedy session with minimal heat exposure.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • The spread of the mosquitoes is concerning because their presence increases the likelihood of disease transmission, said Steve Abshier, president of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California.
    Kff Health News, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 July 2025
  • As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • More people are choosing to rent instead of buying their first homes due to factors like increasing home prices, higher mortgage interest rates and growing debt levels.
    Nathan Levinson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • As revenue per barrel fell, U.S. operators shifted strategy: instead of expanding output, many are funneling profits into stock buybacks, dividends, and debt reduction.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • In 1936, famed Olympic runner Jesse Owens raced a horse in a 100-yard dash and won thanks in part to a 40-yard handicap).
    Emily Barone, Time, 19 July 2017
  • LNK classes have done everything from installing handicap doors at Redwood to creating a Healthy Newborn site for Transitions that serves mothers going through addiction recovery.
    Brent Cooper, Cincinnati.com, 17 July 2017
Noun
  • Don’t look to nobody else or point blame at somebody else because you ain’t reached or tapped into your blessings yet.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 7 July 2025
  • The balance of the blame fell on the college, according to the judge.
    Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025
  • And over decades, the probability of layoff has fallen significantly.
    Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Liability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liability. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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