1
as in exhausted
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
prostrate marathoners typically spend the day after the race recovering
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
prostrate with fear as the bombs began dropping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia
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2
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the huge increase in gas prices really prostrated the nation's economic engine
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
a widow prostrated by crushing grief
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4
as in to down
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
the boxer bragged that he could prostrate any opponent with a single blow
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prostrate
Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022
As a prostrate Johnson held his head in both hands in disbelief, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chose to hold his head high.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2022
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 May 2025
The dire warnings that there would be blackouts, power shortages, and prostrated Germany industries unable to compete on the world market rattled many politicos and burghers, even though the blackouts never transpired and Germany exported at record levels last year.
—Paul Hockenos, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2013
See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Adjective
Johnson then stood over the prostrate Davis and fired two more times into his head, prosecutors said.
—Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022
As a prostrate Johnson held his head in both hands in disbelief, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chose to hold his head high.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2022
Verb
Lydia prostrates herself on the floor of the Red Center.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 May 2025
The dire warnings that there would be blackouts, power shortages, and prostrated Germany industries unable to compete on the world market rattled many politicos and burghers, even though the blackouts never transpired and Germany exported at record levels last year.
—Paul Hockenos, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2013
See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
-
Pop music, like the rest of American society, has reached the exhausted endpoint of the taboo-litigation mania that’s marred the past decade of our national life.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
25 July 2025
-
You’re exhausted in the morning and energized by the afternoon.—
Kelly Stiefel Arias,
Kansas City Star,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Those weak harvests, in turn, are due to drought and high temperatures and more generally climate change, which has negatively impacted coffee harvests for several years.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
21 July 2025
-
It is considered a serious condition and can be dangerous or life-threatening, especially to older adults, people with weak immune systems, and pregnant women.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT
Updated July 12,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 July 2025
-
The discovered manipulation techniques are a reminder of the fact that every system is prone to be gamed; that the very strength of the system – ie.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
This weakens their ability to educate, create, and grow.—
Miguel Cardona,
Time,
21 July 2025
-
This could help verify recent findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) that suggest this strange force is actually weakening over time.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
House Republicans, paralyzed by internal fighting over the Jeffrey Epstein files, will embark early for a lengthy summer recess later this week after canceling votes on Thursday.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
22 July 2025
-
With the House floor paralyzed, House GOP leaders announced on Tuesday that the chamber is leaving for a five-week district work period a day earlier than expected.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
In greater numbers than ever, children hollowed up by hunger are overwhelming the Patient’s Friends Hospital, the main emergency center for malnourished kids in northern Gaza.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
-
With no hemming required, each one of these matching sets won’t drag on the floor or overwhelm your small frame.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Golf ball-sized hail, downed trees and flash flooding were reported across the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
-
Aspen Collection does bike rentals, including e-bikes, for those who’d like to secure wheels while downing their espresso.—
Jamie Siebrase,
Denver Post,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
To anyone tired of dysfunction, this is a new beginning.—
Mike Levin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 July 2025
-
Cosmetic procedures were once only whispered about, carefully timed around the holidays to create the illusion that a restful getaway had erased wrinkles, brightened tired eyes and restored a youthful, refreshed look.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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