EMACIATE Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

emaciate

verb

i-ˈmā-shē-ˌāt

Definition of emaciate

as in to weaken

to lose bodily strength or vigor without adequate medical supplies, doctors could only look on helplessly as cholera victims continued to emaciate

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of emaciate Ruby’s 10-year-old daughter was also found in the house emaciated, and the two women were arrested and held without bail. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024 At barely five pounds, Matilda was emaciated and clinging to life when the Monmouth County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took her in. — Kathleen Hopkins, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023 Past herds of cows wandering through busy settlements along the highway in search of water, so emaciated their ribs were showing. — Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2023 Many were emaciated, unlike the examples in the current study. — Joshua Sokol, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020 Three of them were severely malnourished and the rest were emaciated, according to the Sheriff's Office. — James Carr, azcentral, 21 Feb. 2020 Detectives noted that much of the food in the home was locked away and that James' body was emaciated when found. — Sarah Sarder, Houston Chronicle, 18 Feb. 2020 Scores of common murres, one of the most prolific seabirds, washed up on beaches, and many were emaciated, the researchers said. — oregonlive, 21 Jan. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emaciate

Verb

But while those will provide short-term relief, the currency is expected to weaken toward the end of the year and mid-2027, and a 100 rupee-per-dollar mark could not be ruled out, strategists said.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
However, following his arrest, the owner, Mohammad Khan, blamed this week's rains for weakening one of the roofs, according to police, who said the investigation was still underway.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

The film is set in Lucknow as the age of the nawabs (Muslim nobles) fades.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
But that boom eventually faded, overwhelmed by larger forces including the rise of the regulatory state and increasingly generous government bailouts.

— RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

Trailing the Brewers 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, the Dodgers desperately need to put themselves in the best possible position to win Game 3 and avoid four straight win-or-go-home contests.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
As a result of the fine, Treasury said that Bank of America will work with a third party to report any further transactions to FinCEN that had gone undetected.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of go

Verb

His thighs and sagging belly wrap tightly around the man’s head; his hands clutch at a long golf club and the scales of justice.

— Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
The BoMar Club has received just under thirty thousand dollars from the opioid settlement, to fix its roof and bolster outreach efforts, and Coleman was petitioning the commission for more money to redo the floor, which sagged under our feet.

— Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of sag

Verb

Since then, multiple efforts to phase out or ban horse carriages have failed.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
The exchange of threats comes as Saudi Arabia investigates why its air defenses failed to intercept a barrage of missiles and drones fired by the Houthis.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fail

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Elysiums

emaciate

emaciated

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“Emaciate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emaciate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of emaciate

verb

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