All words

liability

Meaning

a state of being responsible for something, or something that causes problems or difficulties.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

He worried about the growing debt. It was a constant liability, a heavy weight on his shoulders. He knew he was responsible, and each new bill felt like another problem he couldn't escape.

The antique automaton, its gears grinding, was a constant source of worry. Its erratic movements and tendency to fling small objects meant its owner felt a heavy liability, always on edge, fearing the next unpredictable outburst and the damage it might cause.

The overgrown garden was a constant source of worry. Weeds choked the paths, and the old shed leaned precariously. It felt like a great liability, this tangled mess, threatening to fall apart and cause more trouble than it was worth.

My cat's endless naps became a huge liability. Every time I tried to sneak a cookie, she'd wake up with a loud "MEOW!" This constant supervision, and the shame in her eyes, was a real difficulty.

Bouncing rogueally on a unicycle, Bartholomew the badger found himself in quite the pickle. His owner's prized collection of glow-in-the-dark garden gnomes was now scattered across Mrs. Higgins' prize-winning petunias. This unexpected gnome-nado presented a significant liability for Bartholomew, promising a stern lecture and possibly a diet of only wilted lettuce.

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

The faulty wiring became a serious liability. Every spark made the homeowner's stomach clench, fearing a fire or a costly repair. This constant worry, this responsibility for danger, weighed heavily on them.

The persistent leak in the antique celestial orrery was becoming a real liability. Dust motes, disturbed by the slow drip, swirled in the faint light. If the intricate brass gears corroded, it would be an unbearable burden to fix, a problem that felt almost insurmountable now.

The antique automaton, a marvel of gears and springs, was Sarah's sole inheritance. Its intricate workings, however, were prone to unpredictable outbursts of clanking and whirring, making its presence a constant worry. This unpredictable nature was a significant liability, demanding her perpetual vigilance.

My uncle's ancient, sputtering lawnmower had become a true liability, its frequent breakdowns and smoke signals causing more neighborhood complaints than manicured grass. We were constantly on the verge of another explosion, a sure sign of its inherent difficulty.

My pet rock, Bartholomew, is quite the liability. He’s been responsible for a surprising number of stubbed toes and the occasional misplaced remote control. Yesterday, his sheer presence somehow led to a rogue squirrel stealing an entire pizza. This rock's a real problem-causer.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

He felt the crushing weight of his company's debt, a constant source of anxiety. This enormous financial liability meant he couldn't sleep, couldn't plan, and constantly worried about losing everything. It was a problem that consumed his every thought.

The crumbling gargoyle perched precariously above the entrance was a constant source of anxiety. Its immense weight, coupled with the failing mortar, represented a significant liability. The owner knew that one strong gust of wind could unleash disaster, and the responsibility for any damage would fall squarely on him.

The collapsing bridge was a massive liability for the town council. The cost of repairs, coupled with the public's fear, threatened their entire term. They were responsible for the dangerous structure and its mounting problems.

Bartholomew's unfortunate encounter with a rogue unicycle left him with a rather embarrassing liability: a perpetual, involuntary polka. This constant wiggling, while occasionally amusing to bystanders, presented a considerable difficulty when attempting to sneak past the grumpy librarian.

Bartholomew, the sentient, existential teacup, considered his burgeoning sentience a profound liability. Each dawn brought a fresh wave of dread regarding the potential for accidental spills and the ensuing societal upheaval. He envisioned tiny porcelain riots if he were to falter, a truly calamitous liability indeed.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

The precarious financial situation had become a significant liability. Every missed payment, every unpaid invoice amplified the gnawing apprehension of what would inevitably collapse. This relentless burden of responsibility, this constant source of potential disaster, weighed heavily on his weary spirit.

The relentless drizzle saturated the expedition's parchment maps, transforming intricate hydrological surveys into illegible blotches. The mounting liability of their dwindling provisions, compounded by this unforeseen deluge, weighed heavily on the expedition leader’s already strained conscience; a gnawing responsibility for their predicament.

The derelict spacecraft's malfunctioning life support was an escalating liability. Each failing scrubber, each fluctuating oxygen level, amplified the crew's gnawing dread. Their precarious survival hinged on remedying this pervasive problem before it consumed them all.

My pet ferret, Bartholomew, proved a prodigious liability. His penchant for pilfering my spectacles, coupled with an uncanny ability to redecorate with effluvium, rendered him an odious, albeit amusing, encumbrance.

Bartholomew's perpetual state of being responsible for the rogue squirrels infesting the antique doily factory was an undeniable liability. Each pilfered thimble of artisanal thread, each gnawed bobbin, represented a mounting difficulty that threatened to unravel his already precarious artisanal endeavors.

Difficulty

Normal — Everyday words worth reinforcing.

Appears in

Play word games with liability Take the 2 minute vocabulary size test