emaciate
verb
ema·ci·ate
i-ˈmā-shē-ˌāt 
-ˈmā-sē-
emaciated; emaciating
1
: to cause to lose flesh so as to become very thin
cattle emaciated by illness
2
: to make feeble
: to waste away physically
Synonyms
Examples of emaciate in a Sentence
without adequate medical supplies, doctors could only look on helplessly as cholera victims continued to emaciate
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Six dead giraffes, bodies emaciated from the lack of food and water, photographed by Ed Ram, show the horror of Kenya’s prolonged ongoing drought, which has threatened and displaced animals and humans alike.
—Nell Lewis, CNN, 29 Mar. 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
The 6-month-old calico and her sibling were found to be emaciated, with low body temperatures and stomach issues.
—Arizona Republic, azcentral, 22 Nov. 2019
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.
Kathleen Hopkins, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023
Six dead giraffes, bodies emaciated from the lack of food and water, photographed by Ed Ram, show the horror of Kenya’s prolonged ongoing drought, which has threatened and displaced animals and humans alike.
—Nell Lewis, CNN, 29 Mar. 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
The 6-month-old calico and her sibling were found to be emaciated, with low body temperatures and stomach issues.
—Arizona Republic, azcentral, 22 Nov. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near emaciate
Cite this Entry
“Emaciate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emaciate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
emaciate
verb
ema·ci·ate
i-ˈmā-shē-ˌāt
emaciated; emaciating
: to cause to lose flesh so as to become very thin
Medical Definition
emaciate
verb
ema·ci·ate
i-ˈmā-shē-ˌāt
emaciated; emaciating
: to cause to lose flesh so as to become very thin
: to waste away physically
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share