be vulnerable to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be vulnerable to" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to be susceptible or open to harm or attack. You can use it in a sentence when describing how someone or something is at risk or easily affected by something negative. Example: The company's sensitive financial information is highly vulnerable to hacking.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The plane also can be vulnerable to enemy antiaircraft fire.

The New York Times

Some five million are said to be vulnerable to starvation.

The New York Times

To possess something was to be vulnerable to losing it.

The New Yorker

This hinders the ability to be vulnerable, to express weakness.

The New Yorker

But these might be vulnerable to air or submarine attack.

The New York Times

It, too, would be vulnerable to allied air attack.

The New York Times

Such a vessel would also be vulnerable to terrorism.

The Economist

Such projects would also be vulnerable to political manipulation.

The Economist

Even anonymised databases can be vulnerable to "linkage attacks".

The Economist

It would be vulnerable to an unexpected slowdown in Germany.

The New York Times

"He would be vulnerable to being charged.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be vulnerable to", ensure the sentence clearly specifies what the subject is vulnerable to. This provides context and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "be vulnerable to" in overly broad statements without specific examples. Instead of saying "The system is vulnerable", specify "The system is vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be vulnerable to" functions as a linking verb + adjective + preposition, connecting a subject to a condition of susceptibility. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be vulnerable to" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate susceptibility or openness to harm. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, from scientific literature to news reports. When using this phrase, it's important to specify what the subject is vulnerable to in order to maintain clarity and avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives such as "be susceptible to" and "be prone to" can be used to convey similar meanings, depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be susceptible to

Changes the adjective "vulnerable" to "susceptible", maintaining a similar meaning of being easily affected.

be prone to

Replaces "vulnerable" with "prone", indicating a tendency to be affected.

be at risk of

Uses "at risk of" instead of "vulnerable to", focusing on the potential danger.

be exposed to

Indicates a state of being open to something, often negative.

be open to

Suggests a lack of protection or resistance.

be defenseless against

Emphasizes the lack of ability to protect oneself.

be an easy target for

Highlights the ease with which someone or something can be attacked or affected.

be susceptible of

Similar to "be susceptible to" but less common in modern usage.

leave oneself open to

Implies a deliberate or negligent act that creates vulnerability.

lay oneself open to

Similar to "leave oneself open to", suggesting a created vulnerability.

FAQs

How can I use "be vulnerable to" in a sentence?

Use "be vulnerable to" to indicate susceptibility or openness to harm. For example, "The old bridge is vulnerable to collapse" or "Children are vulnerable to manipulation".

What are some alternatives to "be vulnerable to"?

You can use alternatives like "be susceptible to", "be prone to", or "be at risk of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "be vulnerable to" or "become vulnerable to"?

"Be vulnerable to" describes a current state, while "become vulnerable to" describes a change in state. Use the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

What does it mean to "be vulnerable to" something?

To "be vulnerable to" something means to be easily harmed or affected by it. It implies a lack of protection or resistance.