prostrate 1 of 2

1
2
3
as in prone
lying with the face downwards the suspects lay prostrate on the floor while the police searched the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prostrate

2 of 2

verb

1
2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective prostrate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prostrate are prone, recumbent, and supine. While all these words mean "lying down," prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse.

a runner fell prostrate at the finish line

When would prone be a good substitute for prostrate?

While in some cases nearly identical to prostrate, prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface.

push-ups require a prone position

Where would recumbent be a reasonable alternative to prostrate?

The words recumbent and prostrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting.

a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed

When could supine be used to replace prostrate?

While the synonyms supine and prostrate are close in meaning, supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness.

lying supine on the couch

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prostrate
Adjective
Johnson then stood over the prostrate Davis and fired two more times into his head, prosecutors said. Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022 As a prostrate Johnson held his head in both hands in disbelief, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chose to hold his head high. Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2022
Verb
The Invention of Reality TV, making poor people prostrate themselves in an attempt to win cash is older than color television broadcasting. Rebecca Jennings, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 In one of the most striking bag drawings, a weary African rhino is stretched and prostrated by its burden of western loans. Jack Denton, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
  • This is why people often feel exhausted after a day filled with interruptions, even if the total workload was manageable.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • King Charles can't get involved in Prince Harry's security woes: author Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of ‘My Mother and I,’ explains why the monarch is too exhausted to deal with his younger son’s ongoing court battle.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Dell Technologies’ balance sheet appears relatively weak.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Carbonaceous chondrites tend to be weaker and more crumbly than other meteorites, so these objects just don’t stand as much of a chance.
    Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Those running agencies for the first time are prone to make beginners’ mistakes, Mr. Foster said.
    Luke Broadwater, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • At the same time, the vulnerability of U.S. conventional forces creates powerful first-strike incentives for both sides, making minor political crises and military frictions more dangerous and prone to escalation.
    ANDREW S. LIM, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Agreeing to a pick swap with the Lynx weakened the value of the pick that the Sky traded away.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • One by one, the sectors defect, and, eventually, the leader may weaken and their government may fall.
    Julia Angwin, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • He was paralyzed as a result of the shooting and died three months later.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The disturbing event all but paralyzes Kyle on the couch as the viral loathing continues.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Don't let the stress overwhelm the joy of the occasion—remember, some nerves are good!
    Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Medical services are overwhelmed by the number of those injured, including civilians.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Pakistan responded by aerial raids, downed an Indian military aircraft and captured an Indian pilot, who was later released.
    Time, Time, 25 Apr. 2025
  • One tree was cut in the 500 block of North Broadway; three were sawed near 1550 W. 8th St.; five were downed near 350 S. Grand Ave.; three were cut near 717 W. Temple St.; and one was taken out near 300 Treadwell St., according to LAPD officials.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But people here are tired of seeing Farmington in the headlines as a town that's losing population.
    Kirk Siegler, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025
  • And there’s kids who are tired, or crying or can’t handle it.
    Andy Mitten, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prostrate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!