supine

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "supine" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective meaning to be lying face-up, or expressing inaction or passivity. Example sentence: The patient lay supine on the examination table.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A friend, Ahmed, had told him that the best way to float was to turn supine and pretend to be dead.

The Guardian

And every week, there is a new story about tax avoidance or outrageous corruption, both the main parties involved, both culpable, both apparently supine, even floppy, like rabbits in the jaws of corporate interests.

The Guardian

In fact America's government has been anything but supine of late.

The Economist

Economically, the world appears to have progressed from supine to staggering.

The Economist

The companies' managers have done well: supine shareholders have been stiffed.Japan's paper industry is beset by high prices for inputs, notably energy, and low prices for paper, which are kept down by foreign competition, chiefly from China.

The Economist

At the last parliamentary one, in 2008, President Obiang Nguema's ruling party scooped up 99 of the supine legislature's 100 seats.

The Economist

The latter has already been toughened under the coalition yet it is too supine or, given tight controls on its selection and powers, unable to avoid giving that impression.

The Economist

His statistics are sometimes sloppy and he seems barely aware that for most of its people the Soviet Union was already a hell-hole, even when the American workers were happily playing baseball in Gorky Park.The real value of his book is in chronicling the extraordinarily supine behaviour of American bureaucrats and politicians towards the fate of their fellow-countrymen.

The Economist

Antigua's financial regulator has lived down to its reputation for being supine even by Caribbean standards.

The Economist

It says the proportion of the world's emissions subject to some form of legislation has risen from half to over two-thirds since 2007 (though Australia has just scrapped its carbon-trading system); so governments are not as supine as the firm thinks.

The Economist

The new corporate-governance code will oblige firms to employ at least two outside directors on their boards, and gives those boards explicit duties to scrutinise the work of managers and communicate with shareholders.Just as important is the code brought in last year for pension funds and other institutional investors, which aims to transform them from supine rentiers into responsible stewards.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance the impact of using the word "supine" consider the context. Are you using it to describe a physical position or a metaphorical lack of action? If using the word "supine" metaphorically, ensure the context provides a clear connection to the idea of lying back or being passive. You can make this connection more apparent by placing the word in relation to another action. For example: "The board's supine approach to the crisis exacerbated the company's financial troubles."

Common error

A common error is confusing "supine" with "prone". "Supine" means lying face up, while "prone" means lying face down. Using the wrong term can completely reverse the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The word "supine" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a state of lying on the back or a figurative state of passivity or inaction. According to Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show it describing physical positions and behaviors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "supine" is a versatile adjective primarily used to describe a position of lying face-up or, metaphorically, a state of passivity. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English. As shown in the provided examples, it commonly appears in contexts related to news, media and encyclopedias. When describing a position, it contrasts directly with "prone". When describing behavior or actions, it suggests a lack of resistance or initiative. To avoid misuse, remember its precise meaning and choose it carefully over simpler alternatives like "passive" when the specific nuance of "lying back" or "yielding" is intended. The provided writing guidance helps clarify its usage and prevent common errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unresisting

Directly conveys the absence of resistance, a core trait of being "supine".

lying on one's back

Specifies the physical position associated with "supine".

in a passive state

Emphasizes the lack of active resistance or engagement, similar to one meaning of "supine".

prone to inaction

Highlights the tendency towards being inactive or inert.

lacking resistance

Focuses on the absence of opposition or defense.

indifferent

Implies a lack of concern or interest, relating to the passive sense of "supine".

lethargic

Suggests a state of inactivity and reduced alertness, mirroring the passive aspect of "supine".

negligent

Indicates a failure to take proper care in doing something, thus a passive failing.

acquiescent

Describes a willingness to accept something without protest, connecting to the unresisting aspect of "supine".

compliant

Indicates a willingness to obey or agree to something, similar to being passively "supine".

FAQs

How to use "supine" in a sentence?

You can use "supine" to describe someone lying on their back (e.g., "The doctor examined the patient in a supine position"), or to describe someone or something that is passive or yielding (e.g., "The legislature was supine in the face of the governor's demands").

What can I say instead of "supine" when referring to a passive state?

You can use alternatives like "passive", "lethargic", or "indifferent" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "supine" and "prone"?

"Supine" refers to lying face up, while "prone" refers to lying face down. They are opposite positions.

Is it correct to say someone is "supine" if they are simply relaxed?

While "supine" can describe a relaxed physical position, it often implies a lack of resistance or activity. If you only mean to convey relaxation, words like "relaxed", "reclined", or "at ease" might be more appropriate.