1
as in exhausted
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
prostrate marathoners typically spend the day after the race recovering
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
That’s what pushed major tech CEOs to swiftly donate to his inaugural fund, wine-and-dine him at his Mar-a-Lago club, and TikTok to prostrate itself before him as Trump delayed a U.S. ban.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 23 Jan. 2025
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
Some of the nuns prostrate themselves while praying before the Eucharist.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
That’s what pushed major tech CEOs to swiftly donate to his inaugural fund, wine-and-dine him at his Mar-a-Lago club, and TikTok to prostrate itself before him as Trump delayed a U.S. ban.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
-
Today’s discerning little travelers—and their (presumably) exhausted parents—demand more.—
Forbes Staff,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
The world watched, and so did Venezuela’s exhausted population, over 90% of whom, according to opposition data, believe Maduro lost.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Neurologists worried that the urban environment, factory work and office jobs, and other modern pressures were making men tired, indecisive, and physically weak.—
Time,
Time,
3 June 2025
-
That kind of hypocrisy on self-enrichment could become a weak point for the GOP and a clear opening for Democrats to attack.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2025
-
This natural stone is porous enough to stain, soft enough to scratch, and prone to damage from chemicals.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Bias, inaccuracies and missing values can all weaken model reliability.—
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
Coercing democratic allies such as Canada or Denmark more broadly weakens trust in U.S. alliances; threatening Panama reawakens fears of imperialism throughout Latin America; crippling the U.S. Agency for International Development undercuts the United States’ reputation for benevolence.—
Robert O. Keohane,
Foreign Affairs,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
Inflammation from these conditions can paralyze the colon, causing symptoms like bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.—
Janelle McSwiggin,
Health,
6 June 2025
-
Fear of the unknown, driven by economic instability and geopolitical shifts, can paralyze teams.—
David Meade,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
For example, colorful hardware in a small kitchen with a lot of cabinets can overwhelm the space with visual clutter rather than color.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2025
-
Almost immediately, the new facility was overwhelmed: Between the year of its founding and 1887, 44 percent of the women admitted into San Clemente were pellagrous.—
Asia London Palomba,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Many of the trees downed by the storm are usable, according to Johnny Evans, owner of Evens Lumber Co. in Manchester, Tennessee.—
Asher Redd,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
-
Russian air defenses downed 296 Ukrainian drones over 13 Russian regions late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said, in what appeared to be one of the biggest Ukrainian drone assaults of the war.—
Stefanie Dazio,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
While infants and toddlers between the ages of 0 to 2 years are more likely to experience a stuffy nose, cough, poor appetite, fussiness, and sleep problems, children between the ages of 3 to 5 years mainly complain of sleepiness, feeling tired during daytime, low energy and dry cough.—
Anuradha Varanasi,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Family members said Jacobs had talked about feeling tired, but not about wanting to take his own life.—
Ames Alexander,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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