Exposed — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ik-ˈspōzd/ ex·posed

Meaning & Definition of Exposed

Exposed (adjective)

  1. open to view
  2. not shielded or protected; also, not insulated

Exposed (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm

    "without our immune systems we'd be exposed to all sorts of deadly infections"

    similar: endangered, liable, open, sensitive, subject (to), susceptible, vulnerable, at risk, in deep water, in jeopardy
    related: likely, prone, uncovered, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unscreened, unsecured
    opposite: insusceptible, invulnerable, unexposed, unsusceptible
    near: covered, guarded, protected, safeguarded, screened, secured, sheltered, shielded, warded

  2. lacking a usual or natural covering

    "the exposed electrical wires were a safety hazard"

    similar: bald, bare, denuded, naked, open, peeled, stripped, uncovered
    related: displayed, revealed, hairless, shaven, disrobed, unclad, unclothed, undressed, furless, skinned, divested, unprotected
    opposite: covered
    near: mantled, overgrown, overrun, overspread, bearded, hairy

  3. lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack

    "the soldiers were so exposed in the open field that they were the proverbial sitting ducks"

    similar: defenseless, helpless, susceptible, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unresistant, vulnerable, in the lurch
    related: indefensible, untenable, uncovered, unsafe, overcome, preyed (on or upon), disarmed, passive, resistless, unarmed, feeble, frail, weak, abandoned, high and dry, marooned
    opposite: guarded, invulnerable, protected, resistant, shielded
    near: defensible, covered, fortified, safe, screened, secure, sheltered, armed, armored, immune, impenetrable, impregnable, invincible, strong, unassailable, unbeatable, unconquerable, almighty, omnipotent

Exposed (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to reveal the true nature of

    "a well-researched article that exposes the UFO story as a hoax"

    similar: debunked, nailed, showed up, uncloaked, uncovered, undressed, unmasked, blew the whistle on
    related: demolished, discredited, disproved, disclosed, divulged, told, unveiled
    opposite: camouflaged, cloaked, disguised, masked
    near: concealed, hid, secreted, veiled

  2. to make known (as information previously kept secret)

    "the documentary claims to expose how winners of beauty pageants are really picked"

    similar: bared, disclosed, discovered, divulged, let on (about), revealed, spilled, told, unbosomed, uncloaked, uncovered, unmasked, unveiled, brought to light, let the cat out of the bag (about), spilled the beans (about), went public (with)
    related: confided, shared, debunked, showed up, unclothed, undraped, advertised, announced, blazed, broadcast, brought out, declared, placarded, posted, proclaimed, promulgated, publicized, published, sounded, betrayed, blabbed, gave away, leaked, informed, squealed, talked, communicated, imparted, related, acknowledged, admitted, avowed, conceded, confessed, owned, disinterred, raked up, smoked out, unearthed
    opposite: cloaked, concealed, covered (up), enshrouded, hid, masked, shrouded, veiled
    near: camouflaged, disguised, gilded, glossed (over), varnished, whitewashed, beclouded, bedimmed, befogged, clouded, darkened, eclipsed, obscured, overcast, overshadowed, shaded

  3. to make known (something abstract) through outward signs

    "the tight race for the championship exposed one team's mean streak"

    similar: bespoke, betrayed, communicated, declared, demonstrated, displayed, evinced, gave away, manifested, revealed, showed
    related: bared, disclosed, unbosomed, uncloaked, uncovered, advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, placarded, proclaimed, publicized, sounded, trumpeted, projected
    near: belied, misrepresented, distorted, falsified, garbled, twisted, camouflaged, disguised, gilded, glossed (over), varnished, whitewashed, concealed, counterfeited, covered, hid, masked, obscured, occluded, veiled

  4. to present so as to invite notice or attention

    "I didn't want to expose my ignorance in front of the others, so I kept silent"

    similar: displayed, disported, exhibited, flashed, flaunted, laid out, paraded, produced, showed, showed off, sported, strutted, unveiled
    related: brandished, flourished, waved, advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, heralded, placarded, posted, proclaimed, publicized, sounded, trumpeted, divulged, talked (about), told (of), bared, discovered, revealed, uncloaked, uncovered, unmasked
    near: camouflaged, disguised, masked, concealed, covered, curtained, enshrouded, hid, obscured, occluded, occulted, shrouded, veiled

Related Entry: Expose (verb)

Expose is a different word from Exposed. The synonyms below are for expose, not for exposed.

  1. to reveal the true nature of

    "a well-researched article that exposes the UFO story as a hoax"

    similar: debunk, nail, show up, uncloak, uncover, undress, unmask, blow the whistle on
    related: demolish, discredit, disprove, disclose, divulge, tell, unveil
    opposite: camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask
    near: conceal, hide, secrete, veil

  2. to make known (as information previously kept secret)

    "the documentary claims to expose how winners of beauty pageants are really picked"

    similar: bare, disclose, discover, divulge, let on (about), reveal, spill, tell, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil, bring to light, go public (with), let the cat out of the bag (about), spill the beans (about)
    related: confide, share, debunk, show up, unclothe, undrape, advertise, announce, blaze, bring out, broadcast, declare, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, sound, betray, blab, give away, leak, inform, squeal, talk, communicate, impart, relate, acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, confess, own, disinter, rake up, smoke out, unearth
    opposite: cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil
    near: camouflage, disguise, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash, becloud, bedim, befog, cloud, darken, eclipse, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shade

  3. to make known (something abstract) through outward signs

    "the tight race for the championship exposed one team's mean streak"

    similar: bespeak, betray, communicate, declare, demonstrate, display, evince, give away, manifest, reveal, show
    related: bare, disclose, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, advertise, air, announce, blaze, broadcast, placard, proclaim, publicize, sound, trumpet, project
    near: belie, misrepresent, distort, falsify, garble, twist, camouflage, disguise, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash, conceal, counterfeit, cover, hide, mask, obscure, occlude, veil

  4. to present so as to invite notice or attention

    "I didn't want to expose my ignorance in front of the others, so I kept silent"

    similar: display, disport, exhibit, flash, flaunt, lay out, parade, produce, show, show off, sport, strut, unveil
    related: brandish, flourish, wave, advertise, air, announce, blaze, broadcast, herald, placard, post, proclaim, publicize, sound, trumpet, divulge, talk (about), tell (of), bare, discover, reveal, uncloak, uncover, unmask
    near: camouflage, disguise, mask, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, obscure, occlude, occult, shroud, veil

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Exposed

The most common words with a similar meaning to Exposed:

endangered, liable, open, sensitive, subject (to), susceptible, vulnerable, bald, bare, denuded, naked, peeled, stripped, uncovered, defenseless, helpless, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unresistant, at risk, in deep water, in jeopardy, in the lurch, debunked, nailed, showed up, uncloaked, undressed, unmasked, bared, disclosed, discovered, divulged, let on (about), revealed, spilled, told, unbosomed, unveiled

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Exposed

Words with the opposite meaning of Exposed:

insusceptible, invulnerable, unexposed, unsusceptible, covered, guarded, protected, resistant, shielded, camouflaged, cloaked, disguised, masked, concealed, covered (up), enshrouded, hid, shrouded, veiled

Related Words for Exposed

likely, prone, unscreened, unsecured, hairless, shaven, disrobed, unclad, unclothed, furless, skinned, divested, indefensible, untenable, unsafe, overcome, preyed (on or upon), disarmed, passive, resistless, unarmed, feeble, frail, weak, abandoned, high and dry, marooned, demolished, discredited, disproved

Near Antonyms of Exposed

safeguarded, screened, secured, sheltered, warded, mantled, overgrown, overrun, overspread, bearded, hairy, defensible, fortified, safe, secure, armed, armored, immune, impenetrable, impregnable, invincible, strong, unassailable, unbeatable, unconquerable, almighty, omnipotent, secreted, gilded, glossed (over)

Origin & Etymology of Exposed

First known use: 1630

Frequently Asked Questions about Exposed

What does "Exposed" mean?

"Exposed" means open to view. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: open to view. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Exposed"?

Other words for "Exposed" include endangered, liable, open, sensitive, subject (to), susceptible, vulnerable and bald. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Exposed" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Exposed"?

There are 136 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Exposed". Common alternatives include endangered, liable, open, sensitive, subject (to), susceptible, vulnerable, bald, bare and denuded.

What is the opposite of "Exposed"?

Antonyms of "Exposed" include insusceptible, invulnerable, unexposed, unsusceptible, covered, guarded, protected and resistant. Near antonyms include safeguarded, screened, secured and sheltered.

How do you use "Exposed" in a sentence?

Examples of "Exposed" in a sentence: "without our immune systems we'd be exposed to all sorts of deadly infections"; "the exposed electrical wires were a safety hazard"; "the soldiers were so exposed in the open field that they were the proverbial sitting ducks".

Is "Exposed" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Exposed" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Exposed"?

"Exposed" is pronounced /ik-ˈspōzd/ and divided into syllables as ex·posed.

What is the origin of the word "Exposed"?

First known use: 1630.