Prone to shapelessness
/proʊn tu ˈʃeɪpləsnəs/
adjective phraseB2
Definition
The phrase "prone to shapelessness" describes something or someone that often becomes shapeless or loses its clear form. "Prone" means likely or often having a tendency to do something. "Shapelessness" means the state of not having a clear or defined shape.
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See It in Action
Likely to lose a clear or fixed shape
- •The fabric is prone to shapelessness after washing.
- •This kind of dough is prone to shapelessness if not handled carefully.
- •The sculpture was prone to shapelessness because the material was soft.
Figuratively, something that lacks clear structure or form
- •His ideas are prone to shapelessness without proper planning.
- •The story is prone to shapelessness, making it hard to follow.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "prone to shapelessness" like "likely to lose shape," but more formal and descriptive.
- ✓Picture a soft, wet cloth that easily falls and folds without holding any shape.
- ✓It feels like when your clothes get wet and hang loosely, no longer keeping their form.
- ✓Sounds like "prone" (own) + "shape-less-ness" (without shape) → imagine something that 'owns' the habit of losing shape.
- ✓Imagine a story where a sculpture made of soft clay slowly melts and loses its form.
- ✓NOT like "solid" (has firm shape), "prone to shapelessness" means the opposite—something weak or soft in form.
- ✓NOT like "rigid" (hard and fixed), this phrase describes things that are flexible or unstable in shape.
- ✓NOT like "stable" (steady), but rather easily changed or deformed.
Try Other Words
- •Likely to deform: meaning likely to change shape (Use when talking about physical objects changing shape)
- •Easily misshapen: meaning easily becoming the wrong shape (Use when emphasizing softness or fragility)
- •Unstable in form: meaning not having a steady shape (Use in both physical and abstract contexts)
- •Soft and shapeless: meaning physically soft and without shape (Use for materials or objects)
Unboxing
- •"prone": from Latin "pronus," meaning "bent forward" or "inclined to"
- •"to": preposition linking "prone" to what it is vulnerable to
- •"shapelessness": "shape" (form) + suffix "-less" (without) + "-ness" (state or quality)
- •The phrase combines a tendency ("prone") with a state of not having shape ("shapelessness")
- •Used in English to describe physical or abstract things likely to lose form or clear structure
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of objects or situations in your life that are prone to shapelessness? How do you handle them?
•How does the idea of being "prone to shapelessness" apply to both physical things and abstract ideas like plans or stories?
Fill in the blanks
1.The wet sweater was prone to shapelessness because it was made of ___ material.
2.When a design is prone to shapelessness, it usually lacks ___ support or structure.
3.Unlike hard plastic, soft clay is prone to shapelessness when ___.
4.The essay was prone to shapelessness without ___ to organize the ideas clearly.
5.Fabrics prone to shapelessness often need to be ___ carefully to keep their form.
6.A container prone to shapelessness will ___ when pressure is applied.
7.If a plan is prone to shapelessness, it may ___ because it is unclear or weak.