Woundable

Woundable is an adjective meaning capable of being wounded or damaged; susceptible to injury or harm. It can also be used figuratively to describe vulnerability to non-physical harms, such as criticism or financial loss. The form derives from the noun wound and the suffix -able, and it is more common in technical or formal contexts than in everyday speech.

In medical, biomechanical, or materials contexts, woundable describes tissues, structures, or components that are prone to damage under stress or trauma. For example, woundable tissue may tear more easily, or a coating may be woundable under impact. In everyday use, speakers often prefer phrases like susceptible to injury or injury-prone rather than woundable.

Usage and nuance: woundable emphasizes potential for injury rather than current damage. It is similar in meaning to vulnerable, but the latter is more widely used in both physical and non-physical senses. Because woundable can be perceived as technical or awkward outside specialized writing, it is sometimes replaced with clearer wording.

See also: vulnerable, susceptibility, vulnerability, wound, injury-prone.