vulner-

(Latin: wound, wounding, woundable; from vulnus, "wound"; by extension: hurt; injure, injury; tear, gash; damage)

electromagnetic vulnerability (s) (noun), electromagnetic vulnerabilities (pl)
The characteristics of electromagnetic vulnerabilities consist of a system that can cause it to suffer a definite degradation (incapability of performing a designated mission) as a result of having been subjected to a certain level of electromagnetic environmental effects.
—Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms; US Department of Defense.
invulnerability (s) (noun), invulnerabilities (pl)
A reference to being impossible to harm, to damage, or to defeat: The political candidate's invulnerability in winning the election was apparent.
invulnerable (adjective), more invulnerable, most invulnerable
1. Incapable of being wounded or of receiving injury: The basketball team seems to be in an invulnerable position to winning the championship this year.
2. Unable to be damaged, hurt, or affected: Sharon was invulnerable and insusceptible to criticism.
3. Not able to be successfully attacked by an aggressive military force; immune to attack: In the book Mike was reading, the king's army thought that they were indestructible and invulnerable to any foe that might want to overthrow the kingdom.
invulnerableness (s) (noun) (no plural)
1. The quality or state of being secure from wounds or injury.
2. A situation that is not open to denial or disproof: Jerome felt that the invulnerableness of his argument could not be proven wrong.
invulnerably (adverb), more invulnerably, most invulnerably
A reference to how a person or something is impossible to be harmed or damaged: Lots of people hope that the new vaccine will invulnerably protect them from getting the dangerous flu.
invulnerate (adjective), more invulnerate, most invulnerate
Incapable of being wounded, injured, or harmed.
security vulnerability (s) (noun), security vulnerabilities (pl)
In computer protection, the ability of an invader to violate the integrity of a computer system: Security vulnerabilities may result from weak passwords, software bugs, a computer virus, or other malware, or a script code injection.

A security vulnerability is classified as a serious problem if it is recognized as a possible means of attack.

—Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms; US Department of Defense.
social vulnerability (s) (noun), social vulnerabilities (pl)
One dimension of multiple stressors and shocks, including natural hazards: These social vulnerabilities refer to the inability of people, organizations, and societies to withstand adverse impacts from multiple stressors to which they are exposed.

These impacts of social vulnerabilities are caused in part by characteristics inherent in social interactions, institutions, and systems of cultural values.

threat and vulnerability assessment (s) (noun), threat and vulnerability assessments (pl)
In antiterrorism, a threat and vulnerability assessment involves the pairing of a facility's threat analysis and vulnerability analysis.
—Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms;
US Department of Defense.
vulnerability (s) (noun), vulnerabilities (pl)
1. Susceptibility to injury or damage: In Greek mythology, Achilles' mother tried to make him impossible to be injured, hurt, or wounded by dipping him into the magical waters of the River Styx; however, the heel by which she held him made this vulnerability the cause of his death when an arrow hit him in his heel during a military battle.

Achilles was invulnerable except on his heel where his mother held him when she dipped him into the River Styx.
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2. The degree to which a population, species, ecosystem, agricultural system, or other biological entity is unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate changes: Throughout the three years of almost total draught, the vulnerability of producing enough vegetables and grains hit the farmers quite hard and bankruptcy was not uncommon.
vulnerability analysis (s) (noun), vulnerability analyses (pl)
In computer operations, a systematic examination of an information system or product: A vulnerability analysis is used to determine the competence of security measures, recognize security deficits, furnish data from which to predict the efficiency of proposed security measures, and verify the adequacy of such measures after effectuation.
vulnerability scanner (s) (noun), vulnerability scanners (pl)
A program that performs the diagnostic phase of an analysis, also known as a computer assessment: A vulnerability scanner analysis defines, identifies, and classifies the security holes (vulnerabilities) in a computer, server, network, or communications infrastructure.

In addition, a vulnerability scanner functions as an analysis which can forecast the effectiveness of proposed countermeasures, and evaluate how well they work after they are put into use.

vulnerable (adjective), more vulnerable, most vulnerable
1. A reference to being open to physical or emotional harm; easily hurt, easily wounded: Jackie was quite vulnerable and broke out in tears when friends would mention her late husband who died just a few weeks before.
2. Relating to being unable to resist illness, debility, or physical failure because of physical or psychological weakness: There are some vulnerable people in danger of getting the influenza because they have not yet been inoculated for the disease.
3. Open to censure or criticism; assailable: Hank's sister has always been vulnerable to criticism.
4. Capable of being exposed to a military attack or possible damage: While James was in the army and he and his fellow soldiers were in a vulnerable position, they were able to survive an onslaught by enemy forces.
5. Etymology: from Late Latin vulnerabilis, "wounding"; from Latin vulnerare, "to wound"; from vulnus, vulneris, "wound".
Able to be hurt or wounded.
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Capable of being injured.
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vulnerableness (s) (noun) (no plural)
1. Capable of being physically or emotionally wounded.
2. Open to attack or damage; assailable or in a position of being attacked violently with blows or words.
vulnerably (adverb), more vulnerably, most vulnerably
1. Pertaining to how a person or a thing is exposed to being attacked or harmed: The wolves attacked the deer when they were vulnerably exposed in the woods.
2. A reference to how a person is susceptible to physical or emotional injury: Elderly people are at risk of being vulnerably unprotected, especially if they live alone and open their door to strangers.

Cross references of word families that are related directly, or indirectly, to: "wound, harm, hurt, injure": noci-; nox-; traumat-.