supine

Synonym Chooser

How is the word supine different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of supine are idle, inactive, inert, and passive. While all these words mean "not engaged in work or activity," supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

a supine willingness to play the fool

When would idle be a good substitute for supine?

The words idle and supine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

workers were idle in the fields

When might inactive be a better fit than supine?

The meanings of inactive and supine largely overlap; however, inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

on inactive status as an astronaut
inactive accounts

Where would inert be a reasonable alternative to supine?

The words inert and supine can be used in similar contexts, but inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity.

inert ingredients in drugs
an inert citizenry

In what contexts can passive take the place of supine?

While the synonyms passive and supine are close in meaning, passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

passive resistance

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 supine The Senate confirmations of two superbly qualified Biden nominees for top posts at the Labor Department were blocked by a Big Business cabal allied with not only Republicans but supine Democrats including Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024 But today, a President Harris would have supine leftist zealots, such as Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), eager to do the bidding of their dear White House leader. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 Beginner stretches include standing awareness, head hang, and supine spinal twist. Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024 Poses that can help with endometriosis pain include happy baby, legs-up-the-wall, and supine spinal twist. Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for supine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supine
Adjective
  • The 33-year-old has supported taxing the ultra-wealthy, financial transactions and passive income like dividends.
    Yun Li,Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 June 2025
  • By turning passive browsing into real-time engagement, selling via livestream gives brands a direct line to their audience, combining product education with urgency, authenticity and social proof.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Whether the result of drugs, alcohol or general hysteria, these terrifying men would enter trance-like states and charge into battle, ignoring severe injuries and collapsing into a feeble heap immediately after the fight concluded.
    Drew Gerber, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Two hotels in the East Bay have tumbled into bankruptcy ahead of scheduled foreclosures, in a fresh sign that post-coronavirus maladies still afflict the feeble lodging markets in the Bay Area.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • Some seemed to be downright incompetent, Marquez told the jury.
    Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
  • The defense has argued that others possibly killed O’Keefe inside that home and that the police were either too incompetent or corrupt to investigate that angle.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Where Chelsea’s domestic overseers have been largely acquiescent to their accounting ingenuity, the same can’t be said abroad.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Netanyahu appears convinced that his country’s security, along with his own political survival, depends on prolonging the military offensives and keeping both Gaza and Lebanon ungovernable, and therefore acquiescent.
    Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • An erect, sprawling, and spineless cactus, the flowers are white, fragrant, and measure 12 inches long and 8 inches wide.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 June 2025
  • Some House Democrats have called their party spineless.
    Alex Travelli, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Supine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supine. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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