vulnerable.

Open to physical or emotional harm because of exposure, limited protection, or a particular sensitivity.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• vulnerable to attack
• a vulnerable moment

On the page

He felt vulnerable only after the visitor knew his real name.

The isolated settlement remained vulnerable to a failure in its water supply.

Usage notes

Primary category: psychological / character. Forms: Comparative more vulnerable; superlative most vulnerable where gradation is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.