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.

legal

liable

Legally responsible for something

indictable · actionable · justiciable · fiduciary · culpable · amenable · subject to · on the hook · implicated · at fault

trustworthy

reliable

Consistently performing as expected

conscientious · faithful · steadfast · honorable · reputable · upright · ethical · principled · scrupulous · trustworthy

obligation

duty

Required moral task

mandate · charge · expectation · requirement · pledge · promise · burden · oath · stewardship · trusteeship

blame

culpable

Deserving of blame

scapegoat · censure · condemnation · reproach · reprimand · criticism · impeachment · sanction · discredit · disgrace

transparency

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

Categories
Opposites
responsibility

accountableunaccountable

Not required to justify

irresponsible · nonaccountable · blameless · innocent · exempt

scrutiny and oversight

accountableunaccountable

Not required to justify

unchecked · untouchable · exempt · immune · above the law

governance and power structure

accountabledespotic

Exercising absolute authority

autocratic · tyrannical · absolute · supreme · dictatorial

Phrases
Family

accountability, unaccountable, unaccountably, accountably, unaccountability

Familiarity
Top 20,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G