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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Floods are expected to worsen as a warming climate fuels stronger storms, drenching areas that are already flood-prone and bringing a new level of flooding to areas once considered lower risk. CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025 During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2025 Focus especially on makeup, sweat, or mildew-prone areas like edges or underarms. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025 Garlic does make a perfect companion plant for pest-prone plants like cabbage and other brassicas, as well as for peppers, chamomile, and spinach. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prone
Adjective
  • The coaches may be even less inclined to start Comrie more if the defense struggles without Samberg.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • If the labor market shows signs of resiliency, the central bank may be less inclined to cut its benchmark rate.
    Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 25 Sep. 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
  • Horton threw off flat ground on Friday and Saturday before the playoffs started and had hoped to throw from the mound last Sunday.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2025
  • At the same time, Lillard told me, the cost of labor and the price tag of many individual vaccines have continued to rise, while payments from insurance companies have remained relatively flat.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For the smooth motion, the controller accurately tracked the robot’s centre of mass in the horizontal plane and maintained orientation, with only a small steady-state offset in vertical position.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Coen has also done a phenomenal job with horizontal stretch so far.
    Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prone. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!