compromised
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
used to describe something that is no longer secure or has been damaged by a threat.
describing a system, security measure, or physical structure that has been weakened or made vulnerable to attack or failure.
Simple“The bank told its customers that their credit card details were compromised.”
In context“The security breach left thousands of user accounts compromised, forcing the company to reset all passwords and implement two-factor authentication immediately.”
UsageOften used in the context of digital security or structural integrity.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
having lost your reputation or standards because you did something dishonest or weak.
having one's reputation, integrity, or principles damaged or brought into suspicion.
Simple“The politician's reputation was compromised after the scandal became public.”
In context“The witness was considered compromised due to his previous business dealings with the defendant, making his testimony less credible to the jury.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is common in political and legal contexts to describe someone who can no longer be trusted.
SynonymsAntonyms
“If compromised, freeze your bank accounts immediately, change all your passwords, and report it to Scamwatch and police .”
“The cameras, battery life, and performance aren’t as compromised as they were with past foldables, either.”
From compromise + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.