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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Yet the extremist group has mobilized its members and media outlets to ramp up criticism of the agreement, heaping pressure on Iranian negotiators who have been attempting to extract concessions from a US administration intent on weakening – and possibly ending – the Islamic Republic.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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After reaching record levels in the 1990s and 2000s, deforestation declined until the 2019-2022 term of then President Jair Bolsonaro, whose government was widely criticized for weakening environmental protections.—
Gabriela Sa Pessoa,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The disease can be paralyzing, or even fatal.—
Ciara McCarthy
June 15,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
-
Moorehead has followed Clark’s story from 2000, when the running back for Eisenhower High School suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury in a game through his death in 2012.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Biden, who has spoken at length about overcoming drug addiction, claims to be at least $15 million in debt.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
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Many training programs for travel consultants (or really for anybody who works in sales) include tactics on overcoming objections.—
Scott Laird,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
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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.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
13 June 2026
Verb
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To descend the stairs into Marcel, the new French-continental restaurant on the lower level of the Breuer building, on Madison Avenue, is to watch a brutalist masterpiece surrender, with a kind of gracious compliance, to the softening influence of a great deal of money.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
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Combined with higher interest rates on pause (and the potential for them to be hiked higher later this year), softening wages and household debt at a record high, this week's news underscores the importance of storing your money in safe and profitable places.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Key workplace factors undermining desire include constant connectivity, performing emotional labor, relentless multitasking, experiencing burnout, and failing to take genuine breaks.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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Even after the revolution, prominent Sudanese preacher Abdulhay Yousif said the establishment of a women’s football league was aimed at undermining religion.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Layering a buttery blazer over an all-white ensemble and coordinating it with a matching bag instantly brightens the whole outfit without overwhelming it.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
14 June 2026
-
Every dish and pairing is thoughtfully curated to awaken the palate without overwhelming it.—
Katie Riley,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The water-dropping helicopters returned during Friday's flare-up.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
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Participation ebbs and flows with the economy, dropping to 35 million in 2019.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prostrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrating. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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