Reliable vs. Responsible: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Reliable means consistently good in quality or performance, dependable. Responsible refers to having an obligation to do something or having control over someone.
Comparison Chart
Usage
Describing consistent dependability
Referring to accountability or duty
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Nov 12, 2023
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Reliable and Responsible Definitions
Reliable
Trustworthy and unfailing
She was a reliable friend in times of need.
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Responsible
Accountable for something
He was responsible for the project's completion.
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Reliable
Dependable in achieving results
Their reliable performance ensured success.
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Responsible
Being the primary cause of something
The responsible factor for the success was teamwork.
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Reliable
Capable of being relied on
The reliable software streamlined our work.
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Nov 11, 2023
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Responsible
Having control over someone
As a manager, he was responsible for his employees.
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Nov 11, 2023
Reliable
Able to be trusted for consistency
The reliable car never broke down.
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Nov 11, 2023
Responsible
Liable to be required to give account, as of one's actions or of the discharge of a duty or trust
Who is responsible while their parents are away?.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reliable
Consistently good in quality
He was a reliable source of information.
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Nov 11, 2023
Responsible
Required to render account; answerable
The cabinet is responsible to the parliament.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Reliable
Capable of being relied on; dependable
A reliable assistant.
A reliable car.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Involving important duties, the supervision of others, or the ability to make decisions with little supervision
A responsible position within the firm.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reliable
Yielding the same or compatible results in different clinical experiments or statistical trials.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Being a source or cause
Viruses are responsible for many diseases.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reliable
Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependence, reliance or trust; dependable, trustworthy
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Able to make moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable for one's behavior
At what age does a person become responsible?.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reliable
Such that either a sent packet will reach its destination, even if it requires retransmission, or the sender will be told that it didn't
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Able to be trusted or depended upon; trustworthy or reliable
A responsible art dealer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Based on or characterized by good judgment or sound thinking
Responsible journalism.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reliable
Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependance or reliance; trustworthy.
The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher object.
According to General Livingston's humorous account, his own village of Elizabethtown was not much more reliable, being peopled in those agitated times by "unknown, unrecommended strangers, guilty-looking Tories, and very knavish Whigs."
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reliable
Worthy of reliance or trust;
A reliable source of information
A dependable worker
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
In honor shame culture and patronage, the patron of the entity denoted by the prepositional phrase's compliment AKA object, the entity being its client. In this context the patron is usually being described analogously to a rump state that would govern the client, functioning as though it were a complaints department and a disciplinary apparatus by getting involved in any disputes involving the client, e.g. by acid attacking its own client or by taking revenge against the client's accuser.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reliable
Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief;
An authentic account by an eyewitness
Reliable information
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.
Who is responsible for this mess?
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Oct 19, 2023
Reliable
Worthy of being depended on;
A dependable worker
An honest working stiff
A reliable source of information
He was true to his word
I would be true for there are those who trust me
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.
She has a responsible position in the firm.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.
He looks like a responsible guy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Capable of rational conduct and thus morally accountable for one's behavior.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
(archaic) The individual who bears the responsibility for something.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
(theatre) An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Liable to respond; likely to be called upon to answer; accountable; answerable; amenable; as, a guardian is responsible to the court for his conduct in the office.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Able to respond or answer for one's conduct and obligations; trustworthy, financially or otherwise; as, to have a responsible man for surety.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Involving responsibility; involving a degree of accountability on the part of the person concerned; as, a responsible office.
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable;
A responsible adult
Responsible journalism
A responsible position
The captain is responsible for the ship's safety
The cabinet is responsible to the parliament
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Being the agent or cause;
Determined who was the responsible party
Termites were responsible for the damage
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Oct 19, 2023
Responsible
Having an obligation to do something
She felt responsible for her team's welfare.
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Nov 11, 2023
Responsible
Capable of making moral or rational decisions
A responsible leader makes informed choices.
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Nov 11, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How is responsible defined?
Having an obligation or being accountable for something.
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Nov 12, 2023
Can a product be described as responsible?
Not typically; it's more applicable to people or organizations.
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Nov 12, 2023
What does reliable mean?
Consistently good in quality or performance; dependable.
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Nov 12, 2023
Does responsible imply maturity?
Often, as it suggests accountability and duty.
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Nov 12, 2023
Is being responsible a legal term?
It can be, in the context of legal obligations.
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Nov 12, 2023
Can organizations be responsible?
Yes, particularly in terms of corporate responsibility.
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Can a person be reliable but not responsible?
Yes, one can be dependable (reliable) without having specific duties (responsible).
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Nov 12, 2023
Is being responsible always positive?
Generally, but it can be burdensome depending on the context.
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Nov 12, 2023
How does reliability affect trust?
High reliability often leads to increased trust.
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Is reliability innate or learned?
It can be both, but is often developed through habits and experiences.
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Nov 12, 2023
Are responsible people always reliable?
Not necessarily; one can have duties but not consistently fulfill them well.
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Nov 12, 2023
How is reliability built?
Through consistent, dependable actions over time.
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Nov 12, 2023
Is responsibility always assigned?
It can be assigned or assumed voluntarily.
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Nov 12, 2023
Can reliability be measured?
Yes, often through consistency and performance over time.
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Nov 12, 2023
How do you demonstrate reliability?
Through consistent actions and fulfilling commitments.
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Nov 12, 2023
Does responsibility entail consequences?
Typically, as it involves accountability for actions.
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Nov 12, 2023
Can reliability change over time?
Yes, depending on circumstances and efforts.
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Nov 12, 2023
Can machines be reliable?
Yes, in terms of consistent performance and dependability.
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Nov 12, 2023
Does responsibility require authority?
Often, as it involves decision-making and control.
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Nov 12, 2023
Can reliability be lost?
Yes, through inconsistent actions or failure to meet expectations.
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Nov 12, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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