accountable
On the hook
Accountable means responsible for actions and obligated to explain or justify them.
Officials are accountable to voters, employees to supervisors, children to parents.
The word implies consequences—someone who is accountable can be blamed or punished if things go wrong.
To hold someone accountable is to demand they answer for their conduct.
Legally responsible for something
- answerableLiable to account
- chargeableSubject to payment
- prosecutableAble to face legal action
- indictableAble to be charged
actionable · justiciable · fiduciary · culpable · amenable · subject to · on the hook · implicated
Consistently performing as expected
- dependableWorthy of trust
- credibleWorthy of acceptance
- responsibleObligated to answer for actions
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
faithful · steadfast · honorable · reputable · upright · ethical · principled · scrupulous
Required moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- answerabilityObligation to explain oneself
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
charge · expectation · requirement · pledge · promise · burden · oath · stewardship
Deserving of blame
- faultImperfection or blame
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
censure · condemnation · reproach · reprimand · criticism · impeachment · sanction · discredit
Act of revealing information
- opennessQuality of being accessible
- auditFormal accounts examination
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
reporting · visibility · accessibility · traceability · documentation · verification · review · monitoring
liable
Legally responsible for something
- answerableLiable to account
- chargeableSubject to payment
- prosecutableAble to face legal action
indictable · actionable · justiciable · fiduciary · culpable · amenable · subject to · on the hook · implicated · at fault
reliable
Consistently performing as expected
- dependableWorthy of trust
- credibleWorthy of acceptance
- responsibleObligated to answer for actions
conscientious · faithful · steadfast · honorable · reputable · upright · ethical · principled · scrupulous · trustworthy
duty
Required moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- answerabilityObligation to explain oneself
mandate · charge · expectation · requirement · pledge · promise · burden · oath · stewardship · trusteeship
culpable
Deserving of blame
- faultImperfection or blame
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
scapegoat · censure · condemnation · reproach · reprimand · criticism · impeachment · sanction · discredit · disgrace
disclosure
Act of revealing information
- opennessQuality of being accessible
- auditFormal accounts examination
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
scrutiny · reporting · visibility · accessibility · traceability · documentation · verification · review · monitoring · compliance
- at faultguilty, at fault, to blame, culpable, blameworthy
- accountabilityresponsibility, take responsibility, answerability, responsible, culpability
- fairnessfair play, fair shake, fair treatment, fair and square, fair share
- integrityintegrity, honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, rectitude
- responsibility wordsreliable, dependable, trustworthy, responsible, dutiful
- work traitshardworking, diligent, productive, efficient, lazy
accountableunaccountable
Not required to justify
irresponsible · nonaccountable · blameless · innocent · exempt
accountableunaccountable
Not required to justify
unchecked · untouchable · exempt · immune · above the law
accountabledespotic
Exercising absolute authority
autocratic · tyrannical · absolute · supreme · dictatorial
- police accountabilityScrutiny of law enforcement conduct
- hold accountableRequire someone to justify actions
- held accountable
- holding accountable
- governmental accountabilityOfficials answering for decisions
- be accountableObligated to explain actions
accountability, unaccountable, unaccountably, accountably, unaccountability