prosaic

adjective

prō-ˈzā-ik How to pronounce prosaic (audio)
Definition of prosaicnext
1
as in ordinary
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events an author with a knack for finding something of interest in the most prosaic details of suburban life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mundane
having to do with the practical details of regular life my job at the TV station dealt with the much more prosaic business of cleaning the floors

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 prosaic Meek, a 10-year-old Black girl, is grappling with her fears of nuclear Armageddon as more prosaic domestic concerns kick into high gear. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 In 2024 this broad ethic of democracy came into conflict with a more prosaic politic. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 The unique features hide a center touchscreen the way an architect’s home keeps prosaic televisions out of sight. — Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 12 June 2026 At this point, Vile seems less like a confessional singer-songwriter than a cartographer of the mind, mapping the ways that our thoughts can wander from prosaic to profound and back again. — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for prosaic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prosaic
  1. ordinary
  2. mundane
  3. normal
  4. usual
  5. typical
  6. commonplace
  7. average
Adjective
  • Kurt's key takeaways What caught my attention here is how ordinary the problem is.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • For a growing number of Charlotte-area homeowners, the path to foreclosure can start with something as ordinary as a missed paycheck, a medical setback or a rising monthly bill.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • All of them are concerned with legacy, particularly among fathers and daughters (Shakespeare had two and lost his only son), and all of them touch a realm beyond the mundane — a place of gods and dreams, oracles and enchantment.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Concepts like a recurring conversation with a sibling, a habit picked up during a mundane after-school job, or a small mistake that took months to fully understand can be inroads to genuine self-reflection and creative expression.
    — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of mundane
Adjective
  • Villa go in as considerable underdogs — 7/2 to win in normal time and 2/1 to lift the trophy — and pulling it off would represent another big result in what has already been a landmark year for the club.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • While Social Security is facing long-term financial challenges, including projections that the retirement trust fund could face a shortfall as soon as 2032, beneficiaries can still expect payments to follow the agency's normal schedule this month.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Its separate entrance, elevators, and staff have always set it apart from the surrounding casino ecosystem, offering a smoke-free, gaming-free environment with all the brand’s usual service signatures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For example, someone who is comfortable walking for 30 minutes could walk at their usual pace for several minutes, then pick it up for a minute or two before slowing down again.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • Number 1, because each well requires up to 20 million gallons of fresh water to frac a typical horizontal well.
    — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The wardrobes, however spacious, were creaky; none of the typical five-star tech touches are present—no Nespresso machine, no Dyson hair dryer, no in-wall USB outlets, though there is a charging dock.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of typical
Adjective
  • Clean water and advanced medicine, for example, are now commonplace across much of the developed world despite once being a luxury even kings and queens couldn’t reliably access.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In the realms of art, literature, film, and television, words and images that would once have been considered indecent, offensive, or immoral are now commonplace, especially in the West.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of commonplace
Adjective
  • This squad broke records for fielding the oldest average team in their Premier League era last season.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The average woman with a college degree now has her first child after age 35, a shift from decades ago, when many had children in their 20s.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of average

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pros
prosaic
prosaist
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Cite this Entry

“Prosaic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prosaic. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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