emaciate
verb
ema·ci·ate i-ˈmā-shē-ˌāt 
-ˈmā-sē-
emaciated; emaciating
transitive verb
1
: to cause to lose flesh so as to become very thin
cattle emaciated by illness
2
: to make feeble
intransitive verb
: to waste away physically
emaciation
i-ˌmā-sē-ˈā-shən
noun -ˌmā-sē-
Synonyms
- decay
- droop
- fade
- fail
- flag
- go
- lag
- languish
- sag
- sink
- waste (away)
- weaken
- wilt
- wither
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
without adequate medical supplies, doctors could only look on helplessly as cholera victims continued to emaciate
Recent Examples on the Web 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 Since the creature seemed healthy and wasn't emaciated, police released him in a wooded area nearby. Author: Antonia Noori Farzan, Anchorage Daily News, 21 June 2019 Rocket was an owner surrender that came to Wizard of Paws Wildlife emaciated, with a collar growing into his neck. Kelly Wilkinson, Indianapolis Star, 27 Aug. 2019 Since the creature seemed healthy and wasn't emaciated, police released him in a wooded area nearby. Author: Antonia Noori Farzan, Anchorage Daily News, 21 June 2019 See More
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 Since the creature seemed healthy and wasn't emaciated, police released him in a wooded area nearby. Author: Antonia Noori Farzan, Anchorage Daily News, 21 June 2019 Rocket was an owner surrender that came to Wizard of Paws Wildlife emaciated, with a collar growing into his neck. Kelly Wilkinson, Indianapolis Star, 27 Aug. 2019 Since the creature seemed healthy and wasn't emaciated, police released him in a wooded area nearby. Author: Antonia Noori Farzan, Anchorage Daily News, 21 June 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin emaciatus, past participle of emaciare, from e- + macies leanness, from macer lean — more at meager
First Known Use
1646, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Medical Definition
emaciate
verb
ema·ci·ate i-ˈmā-shē-ˌāt
emaciated; emaciating
transitive verb
: to cause to lose flesh so as to become very thin
intransitive verb
: to waste away physically
emaciates
verb
as in fades
to lose bodily strength or vigor without adequate medical supplies, doctors could only look on helplessly as cholera victims continued to emaciate Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fades
- weakens
- sags
- goes
- fails
- sinks
- decays
- lags
- droops
- flags
- breaks down
- wears out
- deteriorates
- languishes
- wilts
- withers
- wastes (away)
- runs down
- yields
- degenerates
- rots
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- recovers
- rallies
- rebounds
- convalesces
- recuperates
- gains