verwundbar
vulnerable
Definition & meaning
Verwundbar means vulnerable: capable of being physically wounded or harmed, or exposed to emotional, social, or other forms of harm.
- Physical: A person or body part can be injured.
- Figurative: Someone’s feelings, reputation, or position can be hurt or attacked.
Grammar & Word origin
Verwundbar is an adjective. Its comparative forms are verwundbarer (“more vulnerable”) and am verwundbarsten (“most vulnerable”).
It is formed from the verb verwunden (“to wound”) and the suffix -bar, meaning “able to be” or “capable of being.” Literally, it means “able to be wounded.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- verletzlich — especially common for emotional or psychological vulnerability; it can also mean physically susceptible to harm.
- angreifbar — emphasizes being open to attack, criticism, or exploitation.
- empfindlich — means “sensitive” or “easily affected,” and is broader than verwundbar.
Antonyms:
- unverwundbar — literally “invulnerable”; the direct opposite, though it can sound absolute.
- widerstandsfähig — “resilient” or “resistant”; emphasizes the ability to withstand harm rather than being impossible to hurt.
- geschützt — “protected”; describes being shielded from harm rather than inherently invulnerable.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Das Tier ist bei Nacht besonders verwundbar.adjective
The animal is particularly vulnerable at night.
Ohne Unterstützung fühlen sich viele Menschen verwundbar.adjective
Without support, many people feel vulnerable.
Die verwundbare Stelle wurde sofort geschützt.adjective
The vulnerable spot was immediately protected.
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