Vulnerable - plus, help us win a Webby!

[Merriam-Webster]( WORD OF THE DAY [April 16, 2018](#none) vulnerable [Audio pronunciation]( adjective | VUL-nuh-ruh-bul Definition 1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded 2 : open to attack or damage : [assailable]( Scroll down for more about vulnerable TRENDING NOW: [lowlife]( [kakistocracy]( [slimeball]( [salacious]( [SEE ALL [>]]( PEOPLE ARE READING # [‘Obtuse’ or ‘Abstruse’?]( # [The Many Origin Stories of 'Nerd']( # [The Adverb: A Most Fascinating POS]( # ['Precedent' vs. 'Precedence']( WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE [More Confusing Words—Quiz]( How many of these commonly confused words do you know? [PLAY NOW]( Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try! [TAKE ME THERE [>]]( Did You Know? Vulnerable is ultimately derived from the Latin noun vulnus ("wound"). Vulnus led to the Latin verb vulnerare, meaning "to wound," and then to the Late Latin adjective vulnerabilis, which became vulnerable in English in the early 1600s. Vulnerable originally meant "capable of being physically wounded" or "having the power to wound" (the latter is now obsolete), but since the late 1600s, it has also been used figuratively to suggest a defenselessness against non-physical attacks. In other words, someone (or something) can be vulnerable to criticism or failure as well as to literal wounding. When it is used figuratively, vulnerable is often followed by the preposition to. Examples of VULNERABLE The article reminds readers to install the latest antivirus software on their computers so that they will not be vulnerable to [malware]( and viruses. "Updated flood maps would give property owners an accurate picture of how vulnerable their property is to flooding and would help them take the appropriate measures to prepare for future storms." — Steve Ellis, Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press, 15 Mar. 2018 Test Your Vocabulary Fill in the blanks to complete a noun that is used figuratively to refer to the most vital or vulnerable part of something: _ _ gu _ ar. [VIEW THE ANSWER [>]]( WEBBY AWARDS Help Merriam-Webster Win A Webby! We’re thrilled that our app is nominated in the Education & Reference category. Please vote for us and show that words matter! [VOTE NOW [>]]( MORE WORD FUN: [WORD GAMES [>]]( [TRENDING NOW [>]]( [WORDS AT PLAY [>]]( FOLLOW US: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( SHARE: [Facebook][Facebook]( [Twitter][Twitter]( [View this email in a web browser]( You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. [Unsubscribe from Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day]( [Manage your subscription settings]( Merriam-Webster, Inc. 47 Federal Street P.O. Box 281 Springfield, MA 01102 [www.merriam-webster.com](