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
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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
Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022
Johnson then stood over the prostrate Davis and fired two more times into his head, prosecutors said.
—Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022
Ron Cunningham, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
King David named it as a site for prayer and would prostrate himself there.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Adjective
An excellent prostrate variety well suited to rockeries and pathways.
—Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022
Johnson then stood over the prostrate Davis and fired two more times into his head, prosecutors said.
—Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022
Verb
Basically a man who had built a solid reputation as a career university president naively entered the Church of Florida Autocracy, donned sackcloth and ashes and prostrated himself … ultimately for no heavenly reward whatsoever.
—Ron Cunningham, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
King David named it as a site for prayer and would prostrate himself there.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
-
Gaga ended the performance like an exhausted wind-up doll, caged again physically, but never spiritually.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The apparently recent footage showed two hostages -- Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel -- looking gaunt and exhausted while being driven around Gaza City.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But options for changing that are weak.—
Alan J. Borsuk,
jsonline.com,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Instead, molecules simply bounce around and lose energy, resulting in relatively weak conduction.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Certain seed varieties are formulated to be less prone to splitting, including Stonehead, Savoy Ace, and Caraflex.—
Amy Brightfield,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Over 20 years, Belichick disciples became prone to treating players as disposable assets instead of human beings they are supposed to both employ and empower.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Israeli strikes severely weakened Hezbollah – culminating in the assassination of its revered leader, Hassan Nasrallah – and significantly curtailed the group’s domestic clout.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Symptoms related to Listeria monocytogenes Listeria is especially harmful to people whose immune system is weakened or not fully developed but can also impact healthy individuals.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The main risk, as shown in the video, is a thick layer of volcanic ash, paralyzing transportation, disrupting telecommunications and power grids and causing respiratory problems.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Complications from the nearly five-hour procedure left Miller temporarily paralyzed from the neck down.—
Kelsey Lentz,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The delicate mention of woody flavors never overwhelms the agave, and the nose maintains that equity as well.—
Andy Vasoyan,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
And even before the storm made landfall, the levees protecting New Orleans began to fail, overwhelmed by heavy rain and massive storm surges.—
Reena Advani,
NPR,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Defending forces downed or suppressed 430 drones and 21 missiles, the air force said.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
3 Sep. 2025
-
After this year’s July 17 storm, during which between 7 and 11 inches of rain fell over Wyandotte County, public works staff found blockages in the roads, areas that were washed out, at least 40 downed trees and erosion throughout the area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Susan has lifted us up for 50 years; and her arms have not grown tired.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Discard the tired-looking center and separate clumps from the outer edges by hand or use a sharp knife or pruning saw.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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