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 His plan, scheduled for a vote at the Beach commission on Wednesday after two years of often-intense debate and revision, comes in the prosaic form of a technical zoning change. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 Populist theatrics, divorced from the prosaic work of consensus-building and problem-solving, degenerate into political escapism. — Will Marshall, Washington Post, 18 July 2026 Nolan, energized by the self-restraining power of modern morality, turns an epic poem prosaic. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 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 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
  • That could create an unusual situation in which an ordinary consumer turns on a feature built into a mainstream device and, at least technically, runs afoul of state law by using it during a private conversation without everyone's consent.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Annie Palmer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Spanish scientists have developed an experimental type of self-disinfecting cotton fabric, which is activated via ordinary white light.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Large swaths of the film are composed of close-ups of people’s faces or hands, giving seemingly mundane exchanges and gestures — say, a moment when Evans, unimpressed with Holmes’s egg-whisking technique, confiscates the bowl — greater weight.
    — Alex Barasch, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But even the mundane conversations were remarkable in their unremarkableness.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of mundane
Adjective
  • With stimulus checks gone and student loan payments back, Maggiulli suggests the drop may partly be a return to normal.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In both cases, people with pre-existing hypertension experienced bigger drops in systolic and diastolic pressure than those with normal blood pressure.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • The Sagittarius Moon opposes Uranus, making a public responsibility, schedule, or household plan less predictable than usual.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This is Kerry’s usual spiel at the beginning of a season; historically, the bravado lets up over time.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • Minutes from the April 19 meeting outlined how the government opted for just one round of readiness checks before launching its emergency vaccination program due to time constraints, instead of the typical four rounds.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Such moves are typical of presidential hopefuls from both parties seeking to bolster their alliances nationwide.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of typical
Adjective
  • However, cinematographers always need time and encouragement to get inventive with commonplace tools, especially in the documentary world where Hutchens does so much work.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In 20 years’ time, one of the extravagances in these pages may be as commonplace as the smartphone is now.
    — John Vorwald, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of commonplace
Adjective
  • Mahomes himself has been better, posting his highest yards per attempt average and passer rating since 2022.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Asian jet fuel is trading at just over double the average last year, according to calculations by the International Air Transport Association.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 19 Oct. 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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