Definitions

on the line

ADJECTIVE

defenseless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

helpless unarmed unprotected

WEAK

caught endangered exposed hands tied in line of fire indefensible like a clay pigeon like a sitting duck naked on-the-spot open out on limb pigeon poor unguarded up the creek weak wide open

Antonyms

WEAK

powerful strong

ADJECTIVE

pregnable

Synonyms

WEAK

accessible assailable attackable defenseless exposed liable naked on-the-spot out on a limb ready sensitive sitting duck sucker susceptible tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected unsafe vincible weak wide open

ADJECTIVE

sincere

Synonyms

STRONGEST

candid earnest for real forthright genuine heartfelt outspoken real serious true trustworthy

WEAK

24-carat aboveboard actual artless bona fide dead-level dear devout faithful frank guileless honest-to-God honest-to-goodness like it is meant natural no-fooling no-nonsense on the level on the up and up open plain pretensionless regular righteous saintly square sure-enough true-blue unaffected undesigning undissembled unfeigned unpretentious up-front wholehearted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

counterfeit deceitful devious dishonest false flippant insincere invalid untrustworthy

WEAK

tricky

ADJECTIVE

veracious

Synonyms

WEAK

accurate credible dependable direct ethical factual faithful frank genuine high-principled honest just kosher legit like it is on the level on the up and up open reliable right righteous straight-arrow straightforward strict true-blue trustworthy truthful undeceptive up front valid veridical

Antonyms

WEAK

false untrue

ADJECTIVE

vincible

Synonyms

WEAK

accessible assailable attackable defenseless exposed liable naked on-the-spot out on a limb pregnable ready sensitive sitting duck sucker susceptible tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected unsafe weak wide open

ADJECTIVE

vulnerable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accessible defenseless exposed liable ready sensitive susceptible unsafe weak

WEAK

assailable naked on-the-spot out on a limb sitting duck sucker tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected wide open

Antonyms

STRONGEST

guarded protected safe secure strong unsusceptible

WEAK

closed

ADVERB

frankly

Synonyms

STRONG

candidly

WEAK

bluntly dead level directly forthrightly freely from the hip in truth laid on the line level on the level openly plainly straight straight-out straightforwardly without reserve

Antonyms

WEAK

deviously dishonestly insincerely secretively

NOUN

foreground

Synonyms

STRONG

focal point focus

WEAK

center fore forepart front

Antonyms

WEAK

back backdrop background mise en scène rear

NOUN

jeopardy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

peril

STRONG

accident chance endangerment exposure hazard insecurity liability precariousness risk venture vulnerability

WEAK

double trouble on the spot out on a limb

Antonyms

STRONG

assurance certainty safety surety

WEAK

protection

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On the line was someone sounding like her son Fred, crying for help.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

On the line of limited-edition T-shirts Palantir launched last year, CEO Karp appears in watercolor, neck muscles taut and eyes hidden by dark sunglasses, above his favorite motto, “Dominate.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

On the line are $584 million in frozen federal funds to campus.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2025

On the line is the prospect of only their second season without any European football in 35 years.

From BBC • May 1, 2025

On the line for “Emergency contact,” Pearl quickly jotted down her own mother’s name and their home phone number.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

on the line

Example Sentences

Related Words