Synonyms of prone

prone

adjective

ˈprōn 

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

• inclined
• willing
• apt
• tending
• liable
• choosing
• preferring
• given
• likely
• minded
• disposed
• predisposed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unwilling
• averse
• loath
• indisposed
• disinclined

2

as in prostrate

lying with the face downwards

quickly subdue the suspect and get him into a prone position

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prostrate
• flat
• horizontal
• recumbent
• reclining
• reposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• supine
• vertical
• standing
• erect
• upright
• raised
• upstanding

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

Recent Examples of prone

Such are hefty goals for a government that is thinly resourced, decentralized and prone to corruption scandals. —Patrick Peralta, The Conversation, 28 May 2026

Haberstroh updated his findings on Tuesday ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, and found that SGA has actually become more prone to falling as the postseason has progressed. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026

Of the photons of light that avoid clouds of dust and other deep-space obstructions to reach our planet, most don’t make it through Earth’s thick atmosphere, let alone through a telescope’s loss-prone optics. —K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 27 May 2026

Ingredients like Bifida and Lactobacillus ferments support the scalp environment, while caffeine, biotin, niacinamide, and salicylic acid refresh buildup-prone roots and keep scalps feeling balanced. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 May 2026