Synonyms of emaciate

emaciate

verb

i-ˈmā-shē-ˌāt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weaken
• fade
• go
• sag
• decay
• fail
• sink
• wilt
• wither
• deteriorate
• droop
• waste (away)
• languish
• lag
• wear out
• break down
• yield
• rot
• degenerate
• flag
• run down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recover
• recuperate
• rebound
• rally
• gain
• convalesce

Example Sentences

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

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