vulnerability
State of exposure
Vulnerability is the state of being open to harm, attack, or damage.
A security vulnerability is a weakness that can be exploited.
Emotional vulnerability means allowing oneself to be seen and potentially hurt: It takes courage to show vulnerability.
The word often carries positive connotations in psychology—openness to connection requires accepting risk of rejection.
Quality of being accessible
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- trustConfidence in another
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- courageFortitude facing danger
sensitivity · tenderness · heartache · grief · fear · anxiety · insecurity · empathy
State of being unprotected
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- exposedOut in open
- unarmedHaving no weapons
undefended · powerless · susceptible · prey · victim · weakness · frailty · fragility
Notable act or abuse
- breachBreaking of agreement
- attackAggressive act against another
- threatIndication of potential harm
- exposureState of being unprotected
weakness · flaw · loophole · backdoor · patch · penetration · scanning · assessment
Relegation to powerless periphery
- disadvantageUnfavorable circumstance or condition
- precarityState of persistent vulnerability
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- povertySevere lack of resources
exploitation · oppression · dependency · disenfranchisement · refuge · asylum · homelessness · trafficking
openness
Quality of being accessible
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- trustConfidence in another
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
courage · sensitivity · tenderness · heartache · grief · fear · anxiety · insecurity · empathy · compassion
defenselessness
State of being unprotected
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- exposedOut in open
unarmed · undefended · powerless · susceptible · prey · victim · weakness · frailty · fragility · infirmity
exploit
Notable act or abuse
exposure · weakness · flaw · loophole · backdoor · patch · penetration · scanning · assessment · testing
marginalization
Relegation to powerless periphery
- disadvantageUnfavorable circumstance or condition
- precarityState of persistent vulnerability
- displacementRemoval from usual location
poverty · exploitation · oppression · dependency · disenfranchisement · refuge · asylum · homelessness · trafficking · neglect
- illnessdisease, sickness, illness, ailment, disorder
- Relationship Dynamicstrust, loyalty, betrayal, jealousy, support
- weaknessweakness, feebleness, frailty, debility, asthenia
- vulnerabilitydefenselessness, defenseless, helplessness, helpless, powerlessness
- couples therapymarriage counseling, couples therapy, couples counseling, therapist, counselor
- emotional needsemotional support, trust, bonding, attachment, reassurance
vulnerabilityinvulnerability
Immunity to all damage
invincibility · immunity · imperviousness · indomitability · protection
vulnerabilityguardedness
Defensive emotional reserve
defensiveness · emotional armor · self-protection · detachment · stoicism
vulnerabilityfortification
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
security · impregnability · robustness · integrity · soundness
- emotional vulnerabilityWillingness to expose feelings
- male vulnerabilityMen's emotional exposure