English · Word Candidate

vulnerable

/ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

có khả năng bị tấn công hoặc tổn thương cao

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. — Open to disclosing one's inner thoughts and feelings, acting in spite of one's instinct to self-preservation.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Có nhiều khả năng bị tấn công hoặc tổn hại về thể chất hoặc tình cảm

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

It's okay to get vulnerable every now and again.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “vulnerable” mean?

More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.

Is “vulnerable” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.