prostrate 1 of 2

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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

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verb

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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
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 Dozens of pilgrims prostrated themselves in prayer, in violation of the status quo that forbids Jews from praying on the Temple Mount. Jns Staff Report, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
  • Everyone is exhausted and tapped out financially from the holidays and nobody wants to party or buy gifts.
    ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 17 Feb. 2025
  • The 50-year-old retired cop is thirsty and exhausted, and his attempts to spark a campfire using a ferro rod have failed miserably.
    Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Salesforce shares fell in extended trading Wednesday on mixed quarterly results and weak guidance.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
  • There aren’t enough affordable ones and the charging infrastructure is weak.
    Neil Winton, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Francis had an acute case of pneumonia in 2023 and is prone to respiratory infections in winter.
    Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Francis previously suffered an acute case of pneumonia in 2023 and remains prone to respiratory infections during the winter months.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • But the Trump administration's new cuts further weaken a banking watchdog that has been sounding the alarm for years about its decreasing ability to prevent future banking crises.
    Maria Aspan, NPR, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Fed officials are closely monitoring inflation and the labor market for signs of a potentially weakening economy.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Leaders who excel at leading through crisis understand the importance of focusing on what is actionable rather than being paralyzed by uncertainty.
    Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
  • And yet much like the Democrats paralyzed by the chaos at home, the last three days have exceeded their worst nightmares.
    Zachary Basu, Axios, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Places like Chicago Animal Care and Control where Lily came from have been overwhelmed with dog and cat intakes this past month.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
  • While that does not preclude the possibility of another team overwhelming the Padres with a trade offer for Cease, a deal involving closer Robert Suarez remains at least a decent possibility.
    Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • In this case, the Zero Day attack downed dozens of systems for one whole minute, causing widespread catastrophe and the deaths of more than 3,000 people.
    Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The structure had downed wires on top of it, first responders stressed.
    Graham Smith, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In the skincare world, the best retinol serums are put on a pedestal, touted for their ability to breathe new life into tired, aging skin.
    Denise Primbet, Glamour, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Research has also found long-term exposure can result in anemia, which can leave patients feeling weak and tired; a low white blood cell count, which debilitates the immune system; and a low platelet count, which leads to excessive bleeding and bruising.
    Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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