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

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 prone Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. Star-Telegram Weather Bot updated July 12, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2025 The discovered manipulation techniques are a reminder of the fact that every system is prone to be gamed; that the very strength of the system – ie. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025 Camp Mystic, where dozens of children died in the flood, was granted approval to erect cabins for campers on the banks of the Guadalupe River despite being prone to periodic catastrophic flash flooding. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 11 July 2025 That presents a particular challenge for federal weather forecasters in parts of the country that are most prone to fast-moving floods. Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for prone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prone
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump was taking cues from Elon Musk, who seemed inclined to shelve the plan to put Americans back on the lunar surface and focus instead on an all-out sprint to Mars.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2025
  • Weed customers don’t seem inclined to pay more for cannabis harvested without pesticides, or trimmed by hand, or grown in a celebrated region.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • To his right, where the prostrate body of a dying woman was jostled in the bloody fray.
    Dan Barry, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Total revenue was flat at $9.8 billion, in line with forecasts.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Trick the Eye Entering the foyer feels like stepping into a greeting tent with its enveloping striped wallpaper—but the ceiling is actually flat.
    Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Designed with a V-neck, subtly cuffed sleeves, and textured horizontal seams, the dress can easily be dressed up with a jacket and flats or paired with a baseball cap and sandals for a more casual look.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The greatest shift occurred in the south of the peninsula, a movement that is comparable to the horizontal displacement that resulted from the 2011 earthquake in Japan.
    Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prone. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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