as in to weaken
to lose bodily strength or vigor without adequate medical supplies, doctors could only look on helplessly as cholera victims continued to emaciate

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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 emaciate Ruby’s 10-year-old daughter was also found in the house emaciated, and the two women were arrested and held without bail. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024 At barely five pounds, Matilda was emaciated and clinging to life when the Monmouth County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took her in. Kathleen Hopkins, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023 Six dead giraffes, bodies emaciated from the lack of food and water, photographed by Ed Ram, show the horror of Kenya’s prolonged ongoing drought, which has threatened and displaced animals and humans alike. Nell Lewis, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023 Past herds of cows wandering through busy settlements along the highway in search of water, so emaciated their ribs were showing. Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2023 Many were emaciated, unlike the examples in the current study. Joshua Sokol, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020 Three of them were severely malnourished and the rest were emaciated, according to the Sheriff's Office. James Carr, azcentral, 21 Feb. 2020 Detectives noted that much of the food in the home was locked away and that James' body was emaciated when found. Sarah Sarder, Houston Chronicle, 18 Feb. 2020 Scores of common murres, one of the most prolific seabirds, washed up on beaches, and many were emaciated, the researchers said. oregonlive, 21 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emaciate
Verb
  • But in an unexpected ruling in 2023, the Supreme Court declined an invitation to weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
    June 27, CBS News, 27 June 2025
  • Abandoning recognition can erode motivation, diminish engagement and make employees feel invisible, weakening the cultural fabric and undermining long-term resilience.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Once the uncertainty begins to fade, capital returns more quickly than most anticipate.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The red measurement markings also have a tendency to fade over time, especially with frequent dishwasher use.
    Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Simple lifestyle and dietary changes are usually all that is needed to get back on track when things go awry.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 24 June 2025
  • But there is no going all the way back; their faith and trust have been irreparably damaged.
    KORI SCHAKE, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • The different firmness levels ensure that the mattress will never sag, regardless of the sleeper’s body type.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 13 June 2025
  • Revising the menu and starting to bake some pastries fresh in store is all a part of the CEO’s plan to expand into the wellness sector and reverse sagging sales.
    Morgan Severson, CNN Money, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • However, when viruses were exposed to sunlight, many of them did not survive as long, decaying in under 24 hours.
    Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The result was not only environmental catastrophe but license for unchecked consumption of cheap plastic goods that can take a few minutes to use but hundreds of years to decay.
    Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Why did selling fail as a strategy every time but once?
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 23 June 2025
  • However, failing to disclose such care to the non-custodial parent may still cause relationship strain and mistrust, especially if the child shares information later.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Emaciate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emaciate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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