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
An excellent prostrate variety well suited to rockeries and pathways. Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 Johnson then stood over the prostrate Davis and fired two more times into his head, prosecutors said. Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022
Verb
Basically a man who had built a solid reputation as a career university president naively entered the Church of Florida Autocracy, donned sackcloth and ashes and prostrated himself … ultimately for no heavenly reward whatsoever. Ron Cunningham, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025 King David named it as a site for prayer and would prostrate himself there. Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
  • The traditional growth playbook for telecom is exhausted.
    Astha Bhardwaj, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • White disappears completely into the role without skirting parody, portraying the exhausted hitmaker as startled by his own numbness, blanked out and unsure of what to do next.
    Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Relief on that levy—which stacks on top of Liberation Day tariffs—could be a boon for the Asian nation at a time when domestic demand is weak.
    Bloomberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • There, interactions between streams of liquid iron generate a magnetic field one quintillion times more powerful than that of an ordinary lab magnet (but thousands of times weaker than the Sun’s).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ergofoot Orthopedic Slippers For those on my holiday list who have more sensitive and pain-prone feet, this orthopedic pair stands out from the crowd.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Losing him for the entire World Series would weaken their already-thin bullpen, and force Roberts to get creative in high-leverage situations after his starting pitcher has been removed.
    Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • After accounting for lifestyle variables like exercise, the effects weakened a bit as, for example, more active people tend to spend more time outdoors.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Floods, fires, and extreme storms can paralyze entire regions, forcing businesses to shut down while public employees continue to draw wages.
    Ugo Troiano, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics is slated to publish September inflation data on Friday morning, in spite of a government shutdown that has paralyzed federal reporting and has no end in sight.
    Steve Kopack, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Almost any bitters can work, but Barton notes that lighter, fruit-forward flavors—like cherry, orange, or chocolate—tend to complement coffee best, while overly smoky or savory bitters can overwhelm it.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
  • As the storm nears land, powerful winds drive that water ashore, creating walls of water that can overwhelm buildings and infrastructure.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Report downed power lines to the police.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Prosecutor Andrew Figliuzzi claimed Chambers dined at a Houston restaurant before hitting three bars on the night of the crash, per the Chronicle, allegedly downing at least six alcoholic beverages and using cocaine.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There isn’t an obvious replacement, but fans are tired and want something else.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Her recipe is simple, elegant, and designed to keep the party going without anyone leaving jittery or tired.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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