Synonyms of prostrate

prostrate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈprä-ˌstrāt 

1

as in exhausted

depleted in strength, energy, or freshness

prostrate marathoners typically spend the day after the race recovering

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exhausted
• tired
• weary
• dead
• wearied
• drained
• beaten
• worn
• beat
• limp
• aweary
• bushed
• fatigued
• tapped out
• done
• wiped out
• worn to a frazzle
• spent
• pooped
• knackered
• all in
• jaded
• logy
• bleary
• played out
• worn-out
• burned-out
• sleepy
• weakened
• tuckered (out)
• overtaxed
• washed-out
• debilitated
• overworked
• enfeebled
• enervated
• broken-down
• drowsy
• sapped
• lethargic
• overfatigued
• sluggish
• enervate
• run-down
• heavy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unwearied
• rested
• fresh
• rejuvenated
• relaxed
• active
• tireless
• refreshed
• energetic
• strengthened
• strong
• vitalized
• revitalized
• invigorated
• peppy
• weariless

2

as in weak

lacking bodily strength

prostrate with fear as the bombs began dropping

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weak
• weakened
• feeble
• frail
• disabled
• paralyzed
• prostrated
• debilitated
• faint
• enfeebled
• injured
• infirm
• asthenic
• softened
• incapacitated
• slight
• soft
• exhausted
• tired
• languid
• low
• wasted
• effete
• wimpy
• vulnerable
• delicate
• down-and-out
• tender
• enervated
• unsubstantial
• weary
• sapped
• wimpish
• fragile
• drained
• powerless
• impotent
• invalid
• unsteady
• dizzy
• decrepit
• damaged
• hurt
• susceptible
• rocky
• impaired
• groggy
• woozy
• flagging
• resistless
• flimsy
• breakable
• yielding
• broken-down
• unsound
• harmed
• worn-out
• unresistant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mighty
• powerful
• muscular
• strong
• stout
• virile
• stalwart
• rugged
• athletic
• fit
• able-bodied
• sinewy
• hard
• brawny
• hardy
• husky
• beefy
• lusty
• sturdy
• tough
• vigorous
• robust
• hardened
• fortified
• strengthened
• healthy
• strapping
• capable
• energetic
• sound
• hale
• competent
• recovering
• red-blooded
• inured
• energized
• toughened
• vitalized
• invigorated
• convalescing
• recuperating

3

as in prone

lying with the face downwards

the suspects lay prostrate on the floor while the police searched the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prone
• flat
• recumbent
• horizontal
• reclining
• reposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• supine
• erect
• vertical
• standing
• upright
• raised
• upstanding

prostrate

2 of 2

verb

ˈprä-ˌstrāt 

1

as in to weaken

to diminish the physical strength of

an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weaken
• soften
• injure
• waste
• tire
• hurt
• exhaust
• sap
• paralyze
• debilitate
• devitalize
• damage
• etiolate
• enervate
• enfeeble
• cripple
• depress
• incapacitate
• impair
• deplete
• impoverish
• harm
• hamstring
• disable
• grind (down)
• unman
• wash out
• lay up
• wear out
• invalid
• wear down
• break down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strengthen
• fortify
• recruit
• energize
• beef (up)
• season
• invigorate
• rejuvenate
• vitalize
• harden
• toughen

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paralyze
• cripple
• incapacitate
• undermine
• immobilize
• weaken
• hamstring
• disable
• attenuate
• undercut
• sap
• maim
• mutilate
• debilitate
• hobble
• tire
• enfeeble
• knock out
• enervate
• lame

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• invigorate
• energize
• vitalize
• galvanize
• strengthen
• fortify
• empower
• restore
• revive
• regenerate
• revitalize
• rejuvenate
• refresh
• freshen
• refreshen

3

as in to overwhelm

to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress

a widow prostrated by crushing grief

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overwhelm
• overcome
• devastate
• floor
• crush
• oppress
• grind (down)
• swamp
• disturb
• rock
• overpower
• overmaster
• whelm
• snow under
• drown
• defeat
• distress
• sink
• upset
• refute
• shatter
• throw
• stagger
• demoralize
• deluge
• confute
• unman
• break
• unnerve

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• down
• floor
• drop
• fell
• topple
• mow (down)
• hit
• smack
• level
• slam
• slap
• knock down
• punch
• knock over
• pound
• bang
• overthrow
• bowl (down or over)
• thump
• knock out
• poke
• whack
• throw down
• smite
• slug
• jab
• belt
• paste
• bludgeon
• sock
• clobber
• swipe
• bash
• hammer
• swat
• whale
• wallop
• KO
• kayo
• slog
• thwack

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective prostrate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prostrate are prone, recumbent, and supine. While all these words mean "lying down," prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse.

a runner fell prostrate at the finish line

When would prone be a good substitute for prostrate?

While in some cases nearly identical to prostrate, prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface.

push-ups require a prone position

Where would recumbent be a reasonable alternative to prostrate?

The words recumbent and prostrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting.

a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed

When could supine be used to replace prostrate?

While the synonyms supine and prostrate are close in meaning, supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness.

lying supine on the couch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of prostrate

Adjective

To his right, where the prostrate body of a dying woman was jostled in the bloody fray. — Dan Barry, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Parsons, having disentangled himself from a Bears tackle, retracing his steps and leaping over a prostrate Montgomery to recover the fumble. — Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2022

Verb

Adults eagerly prostrating themselves – emotionally, literally – to worship at the altar of an organization bound by little more than laundry and shared legends. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

Controversial finish of the weekend, though, came at Anfield, where Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz chose to ruthlessly lob Liverpool’s Freddie Woodman, despite the goalkeeper lying injured and prostrate on the ground. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026