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prostration
noun
pros·tra·tion
prä-ˈstrā-shən
Synonyms
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
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Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of prostration was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to prostration
Dictionary Entries Near prostration
Cite this Entry
“Prostration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prostration. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on prostration
Nglish: Translation of prostration for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of prostration for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prostration
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