prostration

noun

pros·​tra·​tion prä-ˈstrā-shən 

1

a

: the act of assuming a prostrate position

b

: the state of being in a prostrate position : abasement

2

a

: complete physical or mental exhaustion : collapse

b

: the process of being made powerless or the condition of powerlessness

the country suffered economic prostration after the war

Synonyms

• burnout
• collapse
• exhaustion
• fatigue
• frazzle
• lassitude
• tiredness
• weariness

Examples of prostration in a Sentence

an outpatient suffering from fever, prostration, and nausea was rushed to the hospital by ambulance

Recent Examples on the Web

By that time, the Russian public had come to regard the 1990s—with its experiment in democracy, the advent of the free market, and its unprecedented openness—as a period of national humiliation that produced undeserved wealth for a few, misery for many, and prostration before foreigners. —Dmitri Trenin, Foreign Affairs, 25 Dec. 2016

Indeed, the Sabbath was usually one of Hatzolah’s busiest times, possibly due to the overeating that was among the highlights of the day—heart attacks, strokes, ulcer flare-ups, complete prostration due to the cholent and the kugel. —Tova Reich, Harper's Magazine, 11 Dec. 2023

The attendees offered heartfelt reverence to the Buddhas, engaged in prostrations, and prayed to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for blessings upon all sentient beings. —Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023

One death and two cases of heat prostration were called possibly due to the temperature, which was said then to be the highest in the country. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 3 June 2023

This is akin to members of Congress sporting fake kente-cloth shawls and taking a knee in a foul moment of fake reverence for ex-con George Floyd, in an act of politically correct prostration. —Armond White, National Review, 19 Aug. 2022

In extreme cases of grief prostration, one of the Is-There-Anything-I-Can-Do? —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022

Negotiators claim that a deal could be days away from finalization, perhaps explaining the bizarre prostration to the rogue regime. —Carine Hajjar, National Review, 18 Feb. 2022

President Johnson, it should be noted, had recently made Boutwell’s question about Congress’ prostration before spreading executive tyranny slightly less hypothetical. —Alex Pareene, The New Republic, 21 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

prostration

noun

pros·​tra·​tion prä-ˈstrā-shən 

1

a

: the act of assuming a prostrate position

b

: the state of being prostrate

2

: complete physical or mental exhaustion : collapse

Medical Definition

prostration

noun

pros·​tra·​tion prä-ˈstrā-shən 

: complete physical or mental exhaustion see heat exhaustion