IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary
susceptible
adjective/səˈseptəbl/Band 8
Last updated 21 July 2026
In short
“susceptible” is a Band 8 adjective that means likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing. Below you'll find its pronunciation, natural example sentences, synonyms and antonyms, and the collocations that help you use it accurately in the IELTS Speaking test.
Meaning
Likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Example sentences
Natural, spoken examples at the level an examiner rewards.
- “Young children are especially susceptible to infection.”
- “Some people are more susceptible to stress than others.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
vulnerableproneat risk
Antonyms
resistantimmune
Collocations & common phrases
Word partners that make your usage sound natural — the difference between knowing a word and using it well.
Collocations
susceptible tohighly susceptiblesusceptible to disease
Common phrases
be susceptible to
Related words
Explore more vocabulary
Frequently asked questions
What does “susceptible” mean?
Likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
How do you use “susceptible” in a sentence?
For example: “Young children are especially susceptible to infection.”
What are some synonyms for “susceptible”?
Synonyms include vulnerable, prone, at risk.
Is “susceptible” good vocabulary for IELTS Speaking?
Yes. It is Band 8 vocabulary, and collocations such as susceptible to, highly susceptible, susceptible to disease help you use it naturally. Reaching for precise, less common words like this is exactly what lifts your Lexical Resource score.
Next step
Use “susceptible” in a real mock exam
Practise your vocabulary out loud with SpeakMetry's AI examiner and get an instant band score with feedback on your Lexical Resource.
Start a free mock exam