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Definition of prostratenext
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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
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
His prostrating himself in front of Vladimir Putin is now oily and explainable. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026 Typically, penitents would remain outside church gatherings, demonstrating their repentance by prostrating themselves, and then publicly confess. Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
  • When you’re exhausted after a long day, this pan is clutch.
    Olivia Tarantino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
  • So the prior market — that prior bear market is exhausted.
    CBS News, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Still-high youth unemployment as well as weak social security systems further weigh on consumption.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
  • That would make the hierarchy and Slot look weak if the rift with Salah isn’t resolved before Saturday.
    Joe Prince-Wright, NBC news, 11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Chunkapura lives in Montana now after having gone forward with a lengthy buyout process with his flood-prone property in Everson.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 12 Dec. 2025
  • The exercise version builds strength in your core, shoulders, back and legs, while involving balancing in a rigid, prone position.
    James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • The screenplay grows more complex and rewarding as the central relationship weakens, effectively forcing Sonya to deal with her exhausting boyfriend (Levon Hawke) and pushing Coley to connect with her father who, for whatever reason, spends a lot of time hand-making turquoise jewelry.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
  • This, of course, is problematic for the homegrown haters because the opposing opinion from neutral outsiders weakens their argument and should strengthen our resolve.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • But residents and local leaders in both cities tell a different story, describing communities paralyzed with fear and worried they could be swept up in the immigration operations.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
  • The fine stemmed from a winter storm in December 2022 that paralyzed Southwest’s operations in Denver and Chicago and then snowballed when a crew-rescheduling system couldn’t keep up with the chaos.
    Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Italian sausage keeps the meatloaf moist and adds a little extra savory flavor without overwhelming the rest of the dish.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2025
  • But, overwhelmed by illness, at the beginning of December 2012, Chávez put an end to internal disputes and unequivocally blessed Maduro to lead chavismo and Venezuela.
    Inés Capdevila, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Shortly after Jim Jacobs downed his elk, Flag Swamp was drained and leveled for a new rail line.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • The complaints also allege that sparking or downed power lines exacerbated the inferno.
    Tony Saavedra, Daily News, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • My wife lowers her gaze as if tired, rubbing the side of her glass with her fingers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
  • The first step is to avoid the tired trap of pitting a liberal arts education against a technical or practical one.
    Jamie Merisotis, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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