susceptible in 30 Seconds
- Susceptible means being easily influenced or harmed by something specific.
- It is most commonly used in medical, psychological, and technical contexts.
- The word is almost always followed by the preposition 'to'.
- It describes a lack of resistance or immunity to an external factor.
The word susceptible is a sophisticated adjective used to describe a state of vulnerability or openness to being affected by something. When we say someone is susceptible, we are essentially saying they lack a natural defense or resistance against a specific influence, whether that influence is biological, emotional, or intellectual. It is a word that bridges the gap between scientific observation and everyday social interaction, making it incredibly versatile in the English language.
- Biological Vulnerability
- In medical and scientific contexts, being susceptible means that an organism is likely to catch a disease or be harmed by a pathogen. For instance, children and the elderly are often more susceptible to the flu because their immune systems may not be as robust as those of healthy adults. This usage implies a physical lack of immunity.
Because he hadn't slept well for weeks, his immune system became highly susceptible to every virus circulating in the office.
- Emotional and Mental Influence
- Beyond biology, the word is frequently used to describe how easily someone's mind or heart can be swayed. If a person is susceptible to flattery, it means they are easily influenced by compliments, perhaps even to their detriment. It suggests a certain level of impressionability or a lack of critical distance from external stimuli.
The word carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation depending on the context. In a medical sense, it is a clinical observation. In a social sense, it might imply a weakness or a lack of resolve. However, it can also be used in a technical sense to describe materials—for example, certain metals are susceptible to corrosion when exposed to salt water. This broad range of application is why 'susceptible' is a staple of B2-level English and higher.
Young children are particularly susceptible to the advertising tactics used by fast-food companies.
- The 'Susceptible Of' Variation
- In very formal or academic writing, you might see 'susceptible of'. This means 'capable of' or 'admitting of'. For example, 'The statement is susceptible of two interpretations' means the statement can be understood in two different ways. This is much less common than 'susceptible to' but important for advanced learners to recognize.
The evidence provided was not susceptible of any other explanation.
Ultimately, using 'susceptible' correctly allows you to describe complex relationships between subjects and their environments with precision. Whether you are discussing public health, psychology, or engineering, this word provides a nuanced way to talk about vulnerability without the emotional weight that 'weak' or 'fragile' might carry.
Mastering the use of susceptible requires understanding its grammatical environment. It is almost exclusively used as a predicative adjective (following a verb like 'be', 'become', or 'seem') and is nearly always followed by the preposition 'to'. This structure identifies the subject and then specifies exactly what they are vulnerable to.
- Standard Structure: Subject + Be + Susceptible + To + Noun
- This is the most common way to use the word. The noun following 'to' represents the threat or the influence. For example, 'Plants are susceptible to frost.' Here, the plants are the subject, and frost is the harmful element.
Older wooden buildings are often more susceptible to termite damage than modern structures.
- Using Adverbs for Emphasis
- Because susceptibility exists on a spectrum, we often use adverbs to qualify the degree. Common pairings include 'highly susceptible', 'particularly susceptible', 'extremely susceptible', or 'less susceptible'. These modifiers help provide a clearer picture of the level of risk or influence involved.
The CEO was highly susceptible to the opinions of his closest advisors, often changing his mind after a single meeting.
When discussing people, 'susceptible' can describe personality traits. Someone might be 'susceptible to peer pressure' or 'susceptible to mood swings'. In these cases, the word describes a lack of internal resistance to external social or psychological forces. It is a more formal and precise alternative to saying someone is 'easily led' or 'easily affected'.
Teenagers are often considered more susceptible to the influence of social media trends than older adults.
- Inanimate Objects and Abstract Concepts
- The word isn't just for living things. You can describe a computer system as being 'susceptible to hacking' or an economy as being 'susceptible to inflation'. This usage highlights a structural or systemic weakness that allows an external force to cause a change or damage.
Coastal cities are increasingly susceptible to flooding due to rising sea levels.
By varying the subject and the object of the preposition 'to', you can use 'susceptible' to describe everything from a medical condition to a character flaw to a technical vulnerability. It is a powerful tool for adding specificity to your descriptions of cause and effect.
You will encounter susceptible in a variety of professional and academic settings. It is a favorite in the news, particularly during health crises or economic shifts, because it sounds more objective and authoritative than 'vulnerable' or 'at risk'.
- In Medical News and Health Reports
- This is perhaps the most common place to hear the word. Doctors and health officials use it to describe populations that need extra protection. You might hear: 'Those with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to complications from the virus.' It provides a clinical way to discuss risk factors.
Public health campaigns often target groups that are statistically more susceptible to seasonal illnesses.
- In Psychology and Sociology
- Researchers use 'susceptible' to talk about how people react to their environment. A study might discuss how certain personality types are more susceptible to stress or how individuals in a crowd are susceptible to 'groupthink'. It helps describe the mechanics of human behavior and influence.
The experiment aimed to determine why some individuals are more susceptible to false memories than others.
In the world of technology and cybersecurity, 'susceptible' is used to describe flaws in code or hardware. A security analyst might report that a particular operating system is susceptible to a new type of malware. Here, it implies a technical gap that can be exploited by an attacker.
The outdated software left the entire network susceptible to a massive data breach.
- Environmental and Climate Discussions
- As climate change becomes a more pressing topic, you will hear about regions being susceptible to drought, wildfires, or rising tides. It is used to highlight the fragility of certain ecosystems in the face of global temperature changes.
Arid regions are naturally susceptible to desertification if land management practices are poor.
In summary, 'susceptible' is a word of the experts. Whether they are talking about your health, your bank account's security, or the planet's future, they use this word to pinpoint exactly where the danger lies and who is most likely to feel the impact.
While susceptible is a useful word, it is often misused by learners who confuse it with similar-sounding or similar-meaning words. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your English sound more natural and precise.
- Mistake 1: Confusing 'Susceptible' with 'Sensitive'
- While they are related, they are not interchangeable. 'Sensitive' usually refers to a quick or strong reaction to a stimulus (e.g., 'sensitive skin' or 'a sensitive person'). 'Susceptible' refers to the likelihood of being harmed or influenced. You can be sensitive to cold (you feel it quickly) and also susceptible to cold (you get sick easily because of it).
Incorrect: He is very susceptible about his weight. (Should be 'sensitive')
- Mistake 2: Using the Wrong Preposition
- Many learners try to use 'susceptible for' or 'susceptible with'. In English, 'susceptible' almost always pairs with 'to'. Using the wrong preposition is a common error that can immediately signal a non-native speaker.
Incorrect: The crop is susceptible for disease. (Correct: 'susceptible to disease')
Another mistake is overusing the word where 'vulnerable' or 'prone' might be more appropriate. 'Susceptible' often implies a specific external factor. If you just want to say someone is in a weak position generally, 'vulnerable' is often better. If you want to say someone has a natural tendency to do something, 'prone' (e.g., 'prone to accidents') is often the better choice.
- Mistake 3: Spelling Errors
- The spelling of 'susceptible' is tricky because of the 'sc' and the 'pt'. Common misspellings include 'susceptable' (with an 'a'), 'suceptible' (missing the 's'), or 'susceptable'. Always remember the 'i' before the 'ble'.
Check your spelling: S-U-S-C-E-P-T-I-B-L-E. It follows the pattern of 'perceptible' and 'corruptible'.
Finally, avoid using 'susceptible' to describe positive influences unless you are being ironic. We don't usually say someone is 'susceptible to happiness' or 'susceptible to winning'. It almost always refers to something that could be considered a threat, a weakness, or an external pressure.
To truly master susceptible, you should understand how it compares to its synonyms. Choosing the right word depends on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.
- Susceptible vs. Vulnerable
- 'Vulnerable' is the closest synonym. However, 'vulnerable' often implies a state of being unprotected or open to attack in a general sense (e.g., 'a vulnerable city'). 'Susceptible' is more often used for specific influences or biological/chemical reactions (e.g., 'susceptible to infection').
While the kitten was vulnerable because it was alone, it was also susceptible to the cold weather.
- Susceptible vs. Prone
- 'Prone' suggests a natural tendency or a frequent occurrence. If you are 'prone to headaches', you get them often. If you are 'susceptible to headaches', it means your body lacks the resistance to whatever causes them. 'Prone' is more about the result, while 'susceptible' is more about the underlying weakness.
Other alternatives include 'liable' and 'exposed'. 'Liable' often carries a sense of legal responsibility or a high probability of something negative happening (e.g., 'liable to flood'). 'Exposed' simply means that the protection has been removed, making the subject susceptible (e.g., 'exposed to the elements').
- Susceptible vs. Impressionable
- When talking about people, 'impressionable' is a great alternative. It specifically refers to young people or those who are easily influenced by what they see and hear. 'Susceptible' is broader and can apply to adults, systems, and materials as well.
The impressionable youth was susceptible to the charismatic leader's radical ideas.
By understanding these distinctions, you can choose the word that fits your specific meaning perfectly. 'Susceptible' remains the best choice when you want to emphasize a specific vulnerability to an external agent or influence.
How Formal Is It?
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Fun Fact
The word originally had a more positive sense of being 'capable of receiving' something, but over centuries, it shifted toward the negative sense of being 'vulnerable' to harm.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the 'c' as a hard 'k' sound (it should be 's').
- Stress on the first syllable.
- Missing the 'p' sound.
- Changing the 'i' to an 'a' sound in the last syllable.
- Adding an extra syllable.
Difficulty Rating
Requires understanding of Latin-based prefixes and suffixes.
Spelling is difficult and the preposition 'to' is essential.
Pronunciation of the 'sc' and 'pt' can be a challenge.
Usually clear in professional or academic speech.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjectives followed by specific prepositions.
Susceptible + to.
Predicative adjectives.
The subject is susceptible.
Adverbial modification of adjectives.
Highly susceptible.
Gerunds after prepositions.
Susceptible to catching a cold.
Noun forms of adjectives.
Susceptibility.
Examples by Level
The baby is susceptible to the cold.
The baby gets cold easily.
Use 'to' after susceptible.
Some plants are susceptible to too much water.
Too much water can hurt some plants.
Susceptible is an adjective.
He is susceptible to germs.
He gets sick easily from germs.
Susceptible describes the person.
Is the dog susceptible to the heat?
Does the heat hurt the dog easily?
Question form with 'Is'.
I am not susceptible to his jokes.
His jokes do not affect me.
Negative form with 'not'.
Old cars are susceptible to rust.
Old cars get rust easily.
Plural subject 'cars'.
She is susceptible to loud noises.
Loud noises bother her easily.
Susceptible to + noun phrase.
The paper is susceptible to fire.
The paper burns easily.
Susceptible describes the material.
Children are more susceptible to the flu than adults.
Children catch the flu more easily.
Comparison using 'more... than'.
The wood is susceptible to damage from insects.
Insects can easily damage the wood.
Susceptible to + noun.
He is very susceptible to peer pressure.
He is easily influenced by his friends.
Adverb 'very' modifies the adjective.
Are you susceptible to motion sickness?
Do you get sick easily when traveling?
Common medical usage.
This area is susceptible to flooding in spring.
This place floods easily in the spring.
Describing a location.
The skin becomes more susceptible to sun damage as we age.
Older skin is easier for the sun to hurt.
Linking verb 'becomes'.
She is susceptible to allergies during the summer.
She gets allergies easily in summer.
Time phrase 'during the summer'.
The computer is susceptible to viruses if you don't use protection.
The computer can get viruses easily.
Conditional 'if' clause.
Younger voters are often more susceptible to social media campaigns.
Social media influences young voters easily.
Focus on social influence.
The crop is highly susceptible to a specific type of fungus.
This plant is very easily harmed by a fungus.
Adverb 'highly' for emphasis.
He knew he was susceptible to flattery, so he tried to be careful.
He knew compliments influenced him too much.
Reflexive understanding of a trait.
Without a vaccine, the population remains susceptible to the disease.
People are still at risk of getting the disease.
Linking verb 'remains'.
The metal is susceptible to corrosion in salty environments.
Salt makes this metal rust or break down easily.
Technical/Scientific context.
Some people are genetically susceptible to certain types of cancer.
Their genes make them more likely to get cancer.
Adverb 'genetically' specifies the cause.
The company is susceptible to sudden changes in the market.
Market changes can easily hurt the company.
Business context.
She is susceptible to mood swings when she is stressed.
Stress makes her moods change easily.
Psychological context.
The elderly are particularly susceptible to respiratory infections during winter.
Old people catch breathing illnesses easily in cold weather.
Particularly susceptible to + noun.
A person who is tired is much more susceptible to making errors.
Fatigue makes it easier to make mistakes.
Susceptible to + gerund (making).
The software is susceptible to hacking if the security patches are not installed.
The program is vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Cybersecurity context.
Coastal ecosystems are susceptible to even minor changes in water temperature.
Small temperature shifts can harm the coast.
Environmental science context.
He was susceptible to the suggestion that he should resign.
He was easily influenced by the idea of quitting.
Susceptible to + the suggestion.
The economy is susceptible to inflationary pressures from rising oil prices.
High oil prices can easily cause inflation.
Economic terminology.
Some individuals are more susceptible to the placebo effect than others.
Some people react more to fake medicine.
Scientific/Psychological study.
The bridge's structure was found to be susceptible to high winds.
The bridge could be damaged by strong wind.
Engineering context.
The historical document was susceptible to multiple, conflicting interpretations.
The text could be understood in many different ways.
Abstract usage in humanities.
His argument was susceptible to criticism because of its lack of empirical data.
The argument was easy to attack because it had no proof.
Academic critique.
The region is susceptible to seismic activity due to its proximity to the fault line.
The area gets earthquakes easily because of where it is.
Geological terminology.
The virus is susceptible to this specific antibiotic in a laboratory setting.
The antibiotic can kill the virus in a lab.
Note: Usually bacteria are susceptible to antibiotics, viruses are not.
The witness's testimony was susceptible to doubt after the new evidence emerged.
People started to disbelieve the witness.
Legal/Formal context.
The delicate balance of the ecosystem is susceptible to the introduction of invasive species.
New species can easily ruin the environment.
Complex environmental relationship.
The treaty was susceptible of a much narrower interpretation than originally thought.
The treaty could be read in a very limited way.
Formal 'susceptible of' usage.
The project's timeline is susceptible to delays if the funding is not secured soon.
The project will likely be late without money.
Project management context.
The theory, while elegant, is susceptible of no direct proof at this time.
The theory cannot be proven right now.
Highly formal 'susceptible of'.
The character's tragic flaw made him susceptible to the machinations of his enemies.
His weakness let his enemies trick him.
Literary analysis.
The alloy's crystalline structure makes it susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement.
The metal becomes brittle because of hydrogen.
Specialized scientific terminology.
The sovereign's authority was susceptible to the shifting alliances of the nobility.
The king's power was easily changed by the lords.
Historical/Political analysis.
The poem is susceptible of various readings, depending on the reader's cultural background.
The poem means different things to different people.
Literary criticism.
The financial system remains susceptible to systemic shocks despite recent regulations.
The banks are still at risk of a big crash.
Macroeconomic analysis.
The data set was susceptible to outliers that skewed the final results significantly.
A few weird numbers changed the whole result.
Statistical analysis.
The human mind is uniquely susceptible to the power of narrative and storytelling.
Stories influence humans very easily.
Philosophical/Psychological observation.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
susceptible to the flu
susceptible to peer pressure
susceptible to mood swings
susceptible to hacking
susceptible to corrosion
susceptible to heat
susceptible to cold
susceptible to criticism
susceptible to manipulation
susceptible to errors
Often Confused With
Sensitive is about the strength of reaction; susceptible is about the likelihood of harm.
Prone implies a habit or frequent occurrence; susceptible implies a lack of defense.
Vulnerable is more general; susceptible is often specific to an influence.
Idioms & Expressions
"an Achilles' heel"
A specific weakness that makes someone susceptible.
His pride was his Achilles' heel, making him susceptible to flattery.
literary"easy prey"
Someone who is very susceptible to being tricked.
Tourists are often easy prey for scammers.
informal"a sitting duck"
Someone in a position that makes them very susceptible to attack.
Without a lawyer, he was a sitting duck in court.
informal"put someone under a spell"
To make someone susceptible to your influence.
The speaker put the audience under a spell.
metaphorical"wide open"
Completely susceptible to something.
The defense was wide open to a counter-attack.
informal"lead someone by the nose"
To control someone who is susceptible to influence.
She leads him by the nose.
informal"clay in someone's hands"
Someone who is very susceptible to being shaped or influenced.
He was like clay in his mentor's hands.
metaphorical"fall for something hook, line, and sinker"
To be completely susceptible to a trick.
He fell for the scam hook, line, and sinker.
informal"a chink in the armor"
A small weakness that makes a system susceptible.
The security leak was a chink in the company's armor.
metaphorical"vulnerable spot"
The exact place where someone is susceptible.
He found my vulnerable spot and used it against me.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar starting letters.
Suspicious means having doubt; susceptible means being vulnerable.
I am suspicious of him, but he is susceptible to my influence.
Very similar form.
Susceptive is a rarer, more technical version of susceptible.
The material is susceptive to magnetic fields.
Similar ending sound.
Acceptable means good enough; susceptible means vulnerable.
The risk is acceptable, even though the system is susceptible.
Rhyming ending.
Perceptible means able to be seen or felt; susceptible means vulnerable.
There was a perceptible change in the patient who was susceptible to the drug.
Similar 'able' ending and 'cap' root.
Capable means having the ability; susceptible means having the vulnerability.
He is capable of winning, but he is susceptible to nerves.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + susceptible + to + [noun].
The plant is susceptible to cold.
Subject + is + highly + susceptible + to + [noun].
He is highly susceptible to flattery.
Subject + becomes + susceptible + to + [gerund].
She becomes susceptible to making mistakes when tired.
It + makes + [object] + susceptible + to + [noun].
The rain makes the wood susceptible to rot.
Subject + is + susceptible + of + [noun].
The law is susceptible of multiple interpretations.
Adverb + susceptible + to + [noun].
Genetically susceptible to the disease.
Complex Subject + remains + susceptible + to + [abstract noun].
The financial infrastructure remains susceptible to systemic failure.
Participial phrase + making + [object] + susceptible.
Having no walls, the city was left susceptible.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Common in professional writing; less common in casual speech.
-
He is susceptible for the flu.
→
He is susceptible to the flu.
The correct preposition is always 'to'.
-
She is very susceptable.
→
She is very susceptible.
The spelling ends in 'ible', not 'able'.
-
I am susceptible about my height.
→
I am sensitive about my height.
Use 'sensitive' for emotional reactions to topics; 'susceptible' is for vulnerability to influence or harm.
-
The metal is susceptible of rust.
→
The metal is susceptible to rust.
'Susceptible of' is only for formal 'capable of' meanings; use 'to' for harm.
-
He susceptibled the virus.
→
He was susceptible to the virus.
'Susceptible' is an adjective, not a verb.
Tips
Always use 'to'
The most important rule is to pair 'susceptible' with the preposition 'to'. This connects the subject to the thing they are vulnerable to.
The 'sc' rule
Remember that 'susceptible' has an 's' followed by a 'c'. It's a common place for mistakes.
Use for specific threats
Use 'susceptible' when you can name the specific thing that might cause harm, like 'susceptible to heat'.
Upgrade from 'weak'
Instead of saying a system is 'weak against' something, say it is 'susceptible to' it to sound more professional.
Stress the second syllable
The emphasis is on 'SEP'. Saying it correctly helps people understand you better.
Adverb pairings
Use 'highly', 'particularly', or 'extremely' to modify 'susceptible' for better descriptive writing.
Medical context
In medical writing, use 'susceptible' to describe patients who lack immunity.
Tech context
In technology, use it to describe security holes or hardware weaknesses.
Susceptible vs. Prone
Use 'prone' for habits and 'susceptible' for external influences.
Acceptance
Think: Susceptible = 'Suspect' + 'Accept'. It's suspicious how easily they accept influence.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'SUS' (suspicious) and 'CEPT' (like accept). If you are susceptible, you 'accept' things easily, which might be 'suspicious' or dangerous.
Visual Association
Imagine a person standing in the rain without an umbrella. They are susceptible to getting wet and catching a cold.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'susceptible' in a sentence about your own health and another about a piece of technology you own.
Word Origin
From the Late Latin 'susceptibilis', which comes from the Latin verb 'suscipere'.
Original meaning: 'Suscipere' means 'to take up', 'to support', or 'to undertake'. It is formed from 'sub-' (under) and 'capere' (to take).
It belongs to the Indo-European family, specifically the Italic branch (Latin).Cultural Context
Be careful when using it to describe people; it can sometimes sound like you are calling them weak.
Commonly used in news reports about flu season or cyberattacks.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Medicine
- susceptible to infection
- susceptible to disease
- highly susceptible population
- genetically susceptible
Psychology
- susceptible to suggestion
- susceptible to peer pressure
- susceptible to influence
- susceptible to hypnosis
Engineering
- susceptible to corrosion
- susceptible to wear and tear
- susceptible to heat
- susceptible to stress
Cybersecurity
- susceptible to hacking
- susceptible to viruses
- susceptible to phishing
- systemically susceptible
Economics
- susceptible to inflation
- susceptible to market changes
- susceptible to shocks
- susceptible to fluctuations
Conversation Starters
"Do you think people are more susceptible to advertising today than in the past?"
"Are you susceptible to the cold, or do you prefer winter weather?"
"What makes a computer system most susceptible to being hacked?"
"Why are teenagers often more susceptible to peer pressure?"
"Do you think some people are naturally more susceptible to stress?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time when you felt susceptible to someone else's influence. What happened?
Write about a physical or emotional vulnerability you have. How do you manage being susceptible to it?
In your opinion, what is the most susceptible part of modern society?
How can we make ourselves less susceptible to misinformation on the internet?
Reflect on a material or object that is susceptible to damage. How do you protect it?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsUsually, yes. It describes a lack of defense against something that is often harmful or unwanted, like a disease or a trick. However, in technical contexts, it is a neutral description of a material's properties.
No, you should almost always use 'susceptible to'. Using 'for' is a common grammatical error.
They are very similar, but 'susceptible' is often used for specific influences (like 'susceptible to the flu'), while 'vulnerable' is used for general states of being unprotected (like 'a vulnerable child').
It is spelled S-U-S-C-E-P-T-I-B-L-E. Note the 'sc' and the 'i' before the 'ble'.
It is rare. You wouldn't usually say someone is 'susceptible to winning'. It almost always refers to something that could be a problem.
In very formal English, 'susceptible of' means 'capable of' or 'allowing for', such as 'a text susceptible of many meanings'.
Yes, it is very common in biology (susceptible to bacteria) and materials science (susceptible to corrosion).
The noun form is 'susceptibility'.
Yes, you can say someone is 'susceptible to flattery' or 'susceptible to influence'.
Yes, it is generally considered a B2 (Upper Intermediate) level word in the CEFR framework.
Test Yourself 180 questions
Write a sentence using 'susceptible' and 'infection'.
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Write a sentence about a person who is susceptible to flattery.
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Use 'susceptible' to describe a computer's vulnerability.
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Write a sentence about plants and the weather using 'susceptible'.
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Describe a character flaw using 'susceptible'.
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Write a formal sentence using 'susceptible of'.
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Use 'highly susceptible' in a sentence about public health.
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Write a sentence about an economy being susceptible to something.
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Describe a material using 'susceptible'.
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Write a sentence using 'susceptible' and 'suggestion'.
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Explain why children are susceptible to germs.
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Write a sentence about a bridge being susceptible to wind.
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Use 'susceptible' in a sentence about advertising.
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Write a sentence about a region susceptible to drought.
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Use 'susceptible' to describe a person's mood.
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Write a sentence about a witness in court using 'susceptible'.
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Describe a historical document using 'susceptible of'.
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Write a sentence about a person being susceptible to the cold.
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Use 'susceptible' in a sentence about a market crash.
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Write a sentence about a person being susceptible to a friend's influence.
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Explain what 'susceptible to flattery' means.
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Are you susceptible to the cold? Why or why not?
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What makes a computer susceptible to viruses?
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Why are children more susceptible to diseases?
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Describe a material that is susceptible to damage.
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How can a person become less susceptible to peer pressure?
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What does 'susceptible to change' mean in a business context?
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Is the environment susceptible to human activity? Give an example.
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What does it mean if a theory is 'susceptible of proof'?
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Are you susceptible to advertising? Why?
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Why is iron susceptible to rust?
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What makes a person susceptible to stress?
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Explain 'susceptible to suggestion'.
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Is your city susceptible to any natural disasters?
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What is the opposite of being susceptible?
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How do you pronounce 'susceptible'?
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Use 'highly susceptible' in a sentence.
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What does 'susceptible to error' mean?
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Can an animal be susceptible to a disease? Give an example.
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Is a person's mood susceptible to the weather?
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Listen for the word: 'The patient is susceptible to infection.' What is the risk?
Listen: 'He is highly susceptible to flattery.' What influences him?
Listen: 'The bridge is susceptible to high winds.' What is the danger?
Listen: 'The crop is susceptible to a fungus.' What can hurt the crop?
Listen: 'She is susceptible to mood swings.' What changes easily?
Listen: 'The system is susceptible to hacking.' Is it secure?
Listen: 'The region is susceptible to drought.' What is the problem?
Listen: 'He is susceptible to peer pressure.' Who does he follow?
Listen: 'The metal is susceptible to corrosion.' What happens to it?
Listen: 'The document is susceptible of multiple interpretations.' How many meanings?
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'susceptible' is your go-to adjective for describing a specific vulnerability. Whether you're talking about a person's health ('susceptible to the flu') or their personality ('susceptible to flattery'), it highlights a lack of defense against an outside force.
- Susceptible means being easily influenced or harmed by something specific.
- It is most commonly used in medical, psychological, and technical contexts.
- The word is almost always followed by the preposition 'to'.
- It describes a lack of resistance or immunity to an external factor.
Always use 'to'
The most important rule is to pair 'susceptible' with the preposition 'to'. This connects the subject to the thing they are vulnerable to.
The 'sc' rule
Remember that 'susceptible' has an 's' followed by a 'c'. It's a common place for mistakes.
Use for specific threats
Use 'susceptible' when you can name the specific thing that might cause harm, like 'susceptible to heat'.
Upgrade from 'weak'
Instead of saying a system is 'weak against' something, say it is 'susceptible to' it to sound more professional.
