1
as in exhausted
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
prostrate marathoners typically spend the day after the race recovering
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
prostrate with fear as the bombs began dropping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
a widow prostrated by crushing grief
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prostrate
Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022
As a prostrate Johnson held his head in both hands in disbelief, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chose to hold his head high.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2022
Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Some of the nuns prostrate themselves while praying before the Eucharist.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Adjective
Johnson then stood over the prostrate Davis and fired two more times into his head, prosecutors said.
—Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022
As a prostrate Johnson held his head in both hands in disbelief, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chose to hold his head high.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2022
Verb
The nuns prostrated themselves in prayer, and Father Miguel doused us all in holy water.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Some of the nuns prostrate themselves while praying before the Eucharist.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
Adjective
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Moreover, deep cleaning tasks that involve scrubbing or reorganizing cabinets can take longer than anticipated, leaving you feeling exhausted before bed.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2025
-
That endurance capacity is likely due to female bodies preferentially using slow-burning fat over quickly exhausted carbohydrates, in both athletes and less sporty people, studies have shown.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
And while the unemployment rate remains low, hiring has been weak, leaving those without jobs struggling to find new work.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
-
The inference here is that women’s speech is coded as weak and men’s, the direct opposite.—
Megan C. Reynolds,
Time,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Premiums have skyrocketed, and coverage has shrunk, especially in wildfire and storm prone regions, exacerbating economic disruption and housing unaffordability.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
-
Other fire safety tips include obeying local burn bans and not driving or parking vehicles in dry grass, which can be prone to catching fire.—
Sarah Linn,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2025
Verb
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But in an unexpected ruling in 2023, the Supreme Court declined an invitation to weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
-
Abandoning recognition can erode motivation, diminish engagement and make employees feel invisible, weakening the cultural fabric and undermining long-term resilience.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
In this article: The News The View From Europe The View From The Middle East The View From China The View From Russia The News Global leaders urged restraint Friday after Israel launched a major string of strikes on Iran aimed at paralyzing the country’s nuclear and military might.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
13 June 2025
-
Trump Opens $5 Million Gold Card Visa Waitlist—What To Know Air India Plane With 242 Onboard Crashes Shortly After Takeoff In Western India This paradox has paralyzed innovation in privacy-sensitive sectors.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
The number of wild burros roaming pine forests and sagebrush fields has grown in recent years, with experts worried that the miniature beasts of burden could overwhelm rare and endangered species of plants.—
Annie Goodykoontz,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
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In recent weeks, Russia has been sending swarms of drones to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and then following up with ballistic missiles, which are harder to shoot down.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
17 June 2025
Verb
-
Alexander Bublik captured his first ATP Tour title of the 2025 campaign by downing Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, to claim the Halle Open for a second time in three years.—
Leon Imber,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
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The tornado outbreak left a trail of destruction in eastern North Dakota and across the Northern Plains, damaging homes, downing power lines, and cutting electricity to tens of thousands of residents.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Mowing Lawns Homeowners are usually away on vacation or are probably too tired to maintain their yards.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
But, in Dick’s opinion, Charlie grew tired of baseball’s daily grind.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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