1
as in weakening
to diminish the physical strength of
an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in paralyzing
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the huge increase in gas prices really prostrated the nation's economic engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in overcoming
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
a widow prostrated by crushing grief
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in downing
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 prostrating
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
His prostrating himself in front of Vladimir Putin is now oily and explainable.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
Typically, penitents would remain outside church gatherings, demonstrating their repentance by prostrating themselves, and then publicly confess.
—
Timothy Gabrielli,
The Conversation,
25 Aug. 2025
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
His prostrating himself in front of Vladimir Putin is now oily and explainable.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
Typically, penitents would remain outside church gatherings, demonstrating their repentance by prostrating themselves, and then publicly confess.
—
Timothy Gabrielli,
The Conversation,
25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrating
Verb
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The hurricane-weakening effects of El Niño may be positive for property and casualty insurers in the Northern Hemisphere.
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An unpopular war, a structurally sound economy, but maybe GDP weakening, unemployment strong, but consumer confidence weakening.
Verb
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His grief was crushing, paralyzing, calamitous.
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The tiniest decisions were paralyzing.
Verb
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The strategies aim to do away with piecemeal approaches to overcoming the unique challenges that islands and coastal communities face, offering a comprehensive approach, said Raffaele Fitto, European Commission executive vice president for cohesion and reforms.
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How did overcoming addiction play a role in this album?
Verb
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The Midwest, meanwhile, was recovering from a strong line of storms that tore through parts of Illinois, Indiana and northern Kentucky on Wednesday, bringing possible tornadoes, damaging homes, and downing trees and power lines in the region.
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Parts of Anne Arundel County were thrashed by high winds Friday night as a severe storm rolled through the area, downing trees and causing power outages.
Verb
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National polling on the administration’s immigration policies tends to follow party lines, drawing Democrats’ disapproval and Republicans’ support, but recent polling suggests some softening among the latter.
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In France, Le Pen and her allies are leading in polls by softening their apocalyptic rhetoric and instead promising big-government populist economic relief.
Verb
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Facilitating investment in Ukraine’s natural resources sector would put more minerals and gas under US influence, and leverage them to achieve the broader foreign policy objective of undermining Russia.
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The real focus should be on utilities demonstrating how future T&D investments will efficiently deliver power, rather than undermining competition or seeking a return to less competitive systems.
Verb
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This geometric rug adds visual interest without overwhelming your existing furniture and decor.
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Use plants with similar sun and soil needs to complement dahlias without overwhelming them.
Verb
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Phillies starter Zack Wheeler dominated — with help from center fielder Derek Hill, whose jaw-dropping catch robbed Juan Soto of a home run — to spoil interim manager Andy Green’s in-dugout Mets debut.
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Top Employees Making Avoidable Mistakes One sign is when your best people start dropping the ball.
Cite this Entry
“Prostrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrating. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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