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
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
Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
First each member, in turn, would prostrate himself while the others, marching in a circle, stepped over him and struck him with their scourges.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 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
Typically, penitents would remain outside church gatherings, demonstrating their repentance by prostrating themselves, and then publicly confess.
—Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
First each member, in turn, would prostrate himself while the others, marching in a circle, stepped over him and struck him with their scourges.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
-
International cave-diving teams are navigating jagged, zero-visibility passages while weighing whether to guide the exhausted, untrained villagers underwater or wait for receding floodwaters, echoing dilemmas from Thailand’s 2018 cave rescue.—
Jintamas Saksornchai,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Rice looked exhausted a few weeks back but returned to form as the season reached its climax.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
As the story goes, attendance was weak, the weather was bad, and the tournament experience was just lacking.—
James Burky,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
As many as 40 states combine one-party control with institutional barriers weak enough to fall to political pressure.—
Bruce Sibley,
Time,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Shading plants from the hot afternoon sun can be an option in areas prone to high heat.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
Those with dry, congestion-prone skin should avoid it, as thick overnight layers can quickly convert from soothing to suffocating.—
Tatiana Dias,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Just weeks ago, the president was blaming Thune for not doing more to whip the votes needed to advance the SAVE America Act, a voter ID bill that stalled over GOP opposition to weakening the filibuster.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
26 May 2026
-
Canadians were once America's largest group of inbound international travelers, but recent data shows a shift as some turn away from the United States based on values and even a weakening Canadian dollar.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The boy was unconscious for several minutes and temporarily paralyzed, according to the lawsuit.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
-
Judge Salvador Vasquez sentenced Pouncey, 37, of Gary, to 176 years Friday for killing Klorya and her husband Kyle Matthews in April 2024, and paralyzing a third man, Malieke Thomas, 55, who later died.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
This high-corn composition lays the foundation for a sweet, approachable profile, while the modest rye content adds a measured spice that never overwhelms.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
After serving as a commissioner for tennis during the 1984 Olympic Games in the city, Burke said he was overwhelmed by the sense of community and excitement that the international sporting event fostered.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Report downed power lines to the police.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
-
In December 2024, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency released footage appearing to show a Magura V5 naval drone armed with R-73 air-to-air missiles downing a Russian Mi-8 helicopter over the Black Sea near occupied Crimea.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Second, they are wired to please you in a way that does not turn off, does not get tired and does not second-guess itself.—
Shreyans Mehta,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Michiganders are tired of the games and want strong, bipartisan leadership.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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