susceptible

/səˈseptəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈseptəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈsep-tə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

susceptible — 形容詞

  • susceptiblepositive
  • more susceptiblecomparative
  • most susceptiblesuperlative

1. likely to be affected, changed, or damaged by something, especially because you

1.形容詞B2
釋義

易受影響的

缺乏抵抗力而容易受到傷害或影響

likely to be affected, changed, or damaged by something, especially because you lack natural protection or resistance against it.

例句

Older adults are more susceptible to heat stroke during extreme summer weather.

年長者在極端夏季天氣中較容易中暑。

be susceptible to + [medical condition]

The office computers ran old software and were highly susceptible to viruses.

辦公室電腦軟體過舊，很容易受到病毒攻擊。

同義詞
  • vulnerable

    more common in physical danger contexts; 'susceptible' can also apply to abstract influence

  • prone

    suggests a habitual tendency; 'susceptible' emphasizes weakness or lack of resistance

  • at risk

    a phrase rather than a single word; used in health and safety contexts

反義詞
  • resistant

    implies active defence or immunity against something

  • immune

    stronger than resistant; suggests complete protection

文法句型

be susceptible to + noun/gerund

用法筆記

The preposition 'to' always follows this sense. The object is typically a harmful or unwanted thing (infection, damage, influence, attack).

常見錯誤

❌She is susceptible of catching cold easily.
✅She is susceptible to catching cold easily.
💡Sense 1 always uses 'susceptible to', not 'susceptible of'.

2. quick to feel strong emotions or be affected by what others say or do, because y

2.形容詞B2
釋義

易動情的

因性格敏感而容易受到情感影響

quick to feel strong emotions or be affected by what others say or do, because you are sensitive or lack strong emotional defences.

例句

As a susceptible teenager, Reuben would cry easily during sad scenes at the cinema.

Reuben 在青少年時期很容易感動，看電影的悲傷場面就會哭。

describes emotional sensitivity of a person

The young athlete was susceptible to the coach's harsh words and lost confidence.

那位年輕運動員承受不了教練的嚴厲批評，失去了信心。

同義詞
  • impressionable

    focuses on being easily shaped by external influence; slightly more specific than 'susceptible'

  • sensitive

    broader term; can refer to physical or emotional reactivity

  • suggestible

    refers specifically to being easily influenced by suggestions or ideas

反義詞
  • hardened

    implies someone who has built emotional defences over time

  • resilient

    positive opposite; able to recover quickly from emotional difficulties

文法句型

be susceptible to + noun (emotional influence)

用法筆記

This sense refers specifically to emotional or psychological influence rather than physical harm. It often describes people who are impressionable or have not yet built strong emotional boundaries.

常見錯誤

❌She is susceptible for emotional advertising.
✅She is susceptible to emotional advertising.
💡Even for the emotional sense, the correct preposition is 'to', not 'for'.

3. allowing a particular type of understanding or analysis — used especially of ide

3.形容詞C1
釋義

可…的

（觀點、陳述）能從特定角度理解或解釋

allowing a particular type of understanding or analysis — used especially of ideas, statements, or theories that can be viewed from more than one angle.

例句

The judge's remark is susceptible of several different legal interpretations.

法官的言論可以有幾種不同的法律解釋。

susceptible of + noun (formal construction)

Vivek argued that the ancient poem is susceptible of a purely political reading.

Vivek 認為那首古詩可以從純政治的角度來解讀。

同義詞
  • capable of

    more common in everyday language; 'susceptible of' has a more formal, intellectual tone

  • open to

    common alternative; 'open to interpretation' is more widely used

  • admitting of

    very formal synonym; rarely used outside legal or academic writing

反義詞
  • incapable of

    direct opposite; 'incapable of proof' means cannot be proved

文法句型

be susceptible of + noun/gerund (formal)

用法筆記

This sense uses 'of' (not 'to') and is restricted to formal or academic contexts. The subject is nearly always an abstract thing (idea, statement, argument, theory), never a person.

常見錯誤

❌His claim is susceptible to several interpretations.
✅His claim is susceptible of several interpretations.
💡Sense 3 requires 'of', not 'to'. Using 'to' changes the meaning to sense 1 (easily harmed).