mean being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse. liable
implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation <liable to get lost>
stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence <a claim open to question>
suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening <exposed to infection>
implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone <all reports are subject to review>
stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something <prone to delay>
implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable <very susceptible to flattery>
implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli <unduly sensitive to criticism>
when followed by an infinitive are used nearly interchangeably with likely.
Although conflicting advice has been given over the years, most current commentators accept apt
when so used. They generally recommend limiting liable
to situations having an undesirable outcome, and our evidence shows that in edited writing it is more often so used than not.