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 And while that’s not a reason to abandon AI tools, a recent study should remind programmers that even reliable versions of the technology are still prone to bouts of weirdness—like claiming knee X-rays can prove someone drinks beer or eats refried beans. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Dec. 2024 Players are prone to moments of indecision and overreaction. Carl Anka, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024 Sinkholes usually form due to groundwater slowly eroding the underground rock that holds soil together, and Pennsylvania is particularly prone to sinkhole damage because of its limestone bedrock, according to the US Geological Survey. Lex Harvey and Andy Rose, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024 Higher-income individuals are more prone to shop online. David Moin, WWD, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prone 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prone
Adjective
  • Hiring may bounce back if the Fed continues to cut interest rates, as employers may be more inclined to invest more in their businesses if borrowing costs are lower, economists said.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Helwani then proposes a situation where if the UFC called ONE and offered the organization $5 million, would that then make Johnson more inclined to say yes?
    James Brizuela, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 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
  • This ties performance to payment, in contrast to traditional influencer approach — most influencers charge a flat rate, so they get paid the same whether their video gets two views or 2 million.
    Elias Leight, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Industrial production growth stayed broadly flat at 5.4% compared with 5.3% in October.
    Jason Ma, Fortune Asia, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • As mentioned, the previous suggestion was for an iPhone with a horizontal row of cameras instead of, for instance, the triangular placing on the iPhone 16 Pro.
    David Phelan, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
  • In the Archaeology International paper, the researchers highlight how Stonehenge's horizontal Altar Stone is similar in size and placement to the large, horizontal stones typical of stone circles found in northeast Scotland—where the Altar Stone originated.
    Newsweek, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near prone

Cite this Entry

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

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