Attackable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Capable of being targeted or harmed by an attack
2. Susceptible to assault or aggressive action from others
3. Vulnerable to being physically or verbally assaulted

Etymology: Attackable is a plain formation: the English verb "attack" with the suffix "-able," meaning "capable of being" something. The verb came into English from French "attaquer," which in turn traces to Italian "attaccare," a word that originally meant to fasten or join things together. That sense survives in the military idea of attacking, which pictures forces being bound or engaged with an enemy. The suffix has a longer pedigree than the verb. "-able" descends from Latin "-abilis," which attached to verbs to mean "able to be done," and it reached English through Old French "-able." Middle English adopted it widely, so English speakers could build new adjectives from almost any verb, and "attackable" follows that pattern.

Synonyms: assailable, vulnerable

Antonyms: defensible, secure