1
as in inclined
having a tendency to be or act in a certain way he was prone to emotional outbursts under stress

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in prostrate
lying with the face downwards quickly subdue the suspect and get him into a prone position

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective prone contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of prone are exposed, liable, open, sensitive, subject, and susceptible. While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

When would exposed be a good substitute for prone?

The words exposed and prone are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

When is liable a more appropriate choice than prone?

In some situations, the words liable and prone are roughly equivalent. However, liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

In what contexts can open take the place of prone?

The synonyms open and prone are sometimes interchangeable, but open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

When can sensitive be used instead of prone?

The meanings of sensitive and prone largely overlap; however, sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

When could subject be used to replace prone?

The words subject and prone can be used in similar contexts, but subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

Where would susceptible be a reasonable alternative to prone?

While the synonyms susceptible and prone are close in meaning, susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

Examples 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 prone Leather is highly prone to drying and cracking, particularly when its pores are clogged with dirt and other soils. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2024 This can make the skin more prone to irritation and increase the risk of infections. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Nov. 2024 The House is prone to wild swings from election to election due to the minuscule size of most of its districts (the average state House district has only a few thousand people in it, although some multi-member and floterial districts have more). Cooper Burton, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2024 The pro scout preparing advance reports on opponents will go through the roster and highlight players prone to having their buttons pushed and acting out. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prone 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prone
Adjective
  • Consequently, if a corporation is performing well, neither top management nor shareholders are typically inclined to make changes until the business is already in crisis.
    Murat Abdrakhmanov, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Further, Democrats were more inclined to vote early or by mail last cycle given that liberal voters tended to be more conscious of the pandemic.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • On the sheer upper slopes of one of the world's most unforgiving peaks, mountaineers, determined to reach the world's second-highest summit in a record-breaking string of ascents, appear to step over the prostrate body of Muhammad Hassan - a Pakistani porter who later died.
    Eve Sampson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
  • Parsons, having disentangled himself from a Bears tackle, retracing his steps and leaping over a prostrate Montgomery to recover the fumble.
    Dallas News, Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2022
Adjective
  • Total noninterest income was relatively flat at $2.2 million for both the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2023.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Its two long, flat metal feet can be mounted at your choice of two heights and two positions near the center or edges of the TV.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • This crazy star seems to communicate with a smaller, five-pointed star to its upper right that is mainly light blue, though its loose weave of horizontal and vertical marks also contains other colors.
    Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Featuring a single horizontal screen that effectively replaces the traditional dashboard, the minimalist cabin is yet another example of Nakamura’s design philosophy that centers on clean lines, quality materials and user-centric functionality.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near prone

Cite this Entry

“Prone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prone. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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