prosaic
7 synonyms and 5 antonyms for prosaic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Plain, ordinary, or dull, lacking imagination or excitement.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use prosaic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
prosaic explanation
prosaic life
prosaic style
Etymology
From Medieval Latin prosaicus ("in prose"), from Latin prosa ("prose"), ultimately from provorsus ("straightforward") — the sense shifted from "written in prose" to "plain and unpoetic" over time.
Full origin of prosaic →Frequently asked questions
What does “prosaic” mean?
The word “prosaic” means plain, ordinary, or dull, lacking imagination or excitement. In plain terms, boring or unremarkable, the opposite of poetic or exciting.
How do you pronounce “prosaic”?
“Prosaic” is pronounced proh-ZAY-ihk (/pɹoʊˈzeɪ.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “prosaic” in a sentence?
Here is “prosaic” used in a sentence: “His speech was competent but prosaic, with none of the passion the crowd wanted.”
What part of speech is “prosaic”?
“Prosaic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prosaic” come from?
The word “prosaic” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin prosaicus ("in prose"), from Latin prosa ("prose"), ultimately from provorsus ("straightforward") — the sense shifted from "written in prose" to "plain and unpoetic" over time.
