prostrate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈprä-ˌstrāt How to pronounce prostrate (audio)
Definition of prostratenext
1
as in exhausted
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness prostrate marathoners typically spend the day after the race recovering

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking bodily strength prostrate with fear as the bombs began dropping

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in prone
lying with the face downwards the suspects lay prostrate on the floor while the police searched the room

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prostrate

2 of 2

verb

ˈprä-ˌstrāt How to pronounce prostrate (audio)
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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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective prostrate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prostrate are prone, recumbent, and supine. While all these words mean "lying down," prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse.

a runner fell prostrate at the finish line

When would prone be a good substitute for prostrate?

While in some cases nearly identical to prostrate, prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface.

push-ups require a prone position

Where would recumbent be a reasonable alternative to prostrate?

The words recumbent and prostrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting.

a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed

When could supine be used to replace prostrate?

While the synonyms supine and prostrate are close in meaning, supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness.

lying supine on the couch

Example Sentences

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 prostrate
Adjective
To his right, where the prostrate body of a dying woman was jostled in the bloody fray. — Dan Barry, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025 Parsons, having disentangled himself from a Bears tackle, retracing his steps and leaping over a prostrate Montgomery to recover the fumble. — Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2022
Verb
Groypers believe that for decades America has prostrated itself to immigrants and foreign nations at the expense of its own languishing citizens. — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 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 See All Example Sentences for prostrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostrate
  1. exhausted
  2. weak
  3. prone
  4. weaken
  5. paralyze
  6. overwhelm
  7. down
  8. tired
Adjective
  • These folks are good-natured and well-intentioned, but don’t seem to have a clue as to how their conduct left us exhausted and feeling ignored.
    — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This unique take on ceviche quite literally revived my very exhausted body.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • Many African economies are in a much weaker economic position compared to the strong 2015-2016 El Niño, the IIF report said, largely due to higher oil prices, which have driven up transport costs, and a strong US dollar.
    — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Too much nitrogen in the spring creates a weak root system that isn’t able to withstand the heat and drought in summer.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • The main concern from Edouard in the always flood-prone Houston metro area is heavy rain and the flooding that follows, the National Weather Service in Houston said.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The tortuous regulatory system that is hostile to new nuclear plants makes the commercial process expensive, slow, and prone to legal challenges.
    — David Szondy August 31, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of prone
Verb
  • Even if Korea can maintain 2% economic growth over the next two decades, consumption growth gradually weakens and eventually turns negative, according to Goldman’s long-term modeling.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Clancy jumped out of a window after strangling the children to death and was paralyzed in the fall.
    — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Clancy is now partially paralyzed due to her suicide attempt and is being held at Tewksbury hospital.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • But the speed and scale of investment could also overwhelm the institutions needed to manage it.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine possesses substantial counter-drone equipment, but the sheer volume of FPVs has the potential to overwhelm kinetic defenses.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of overwhelm
Verb
  • Lake Howell forced a Seminole punt, which was downed inside the two yard linej.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There's a lot of seaweed and some downed trees thanks to Hurricane Maria, but the terrain is pretty navigable.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of down
Adjective
  • Pinterest says Gen Z and Millennials are putting their own spins on trends rather than copying them, a sign that visible under-eyes and lived-in finishes could outlast the tired girl label itself.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Republican president looks increasingly tired and running out of steam, has not introduced any major new initiatives and could see the political writing on the wall.
    — Joe Battenfeld, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tired

Browse Nearby Words

prostitutions
prostrate
prostrated
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Cite this Entry

“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostrate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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