emaciated

1 of 2

adjective

ema·​ci·​at·​ed i-ˈmā-shē-ˌā-təd How to pronounce emaciated (audio) -ˈmā-sē- How to pronounce emaciated (audio)
Synonyms of emaciated
: very thin and feeble especially from lack of nutrition or illness
He was deadly pale and terribly emaciated, with the protruding, brilliant eyes of a man whose spirit was greater than his strength.—Arthur Conan Doyle
My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement.—Mary Shelley

emaciated

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of emaciate

Synonyms of emaciated

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Adjective

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Examples of emaciated in a Sentence

Adjective the emaciated bodies of the survivors of the concentration camps
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Adjective
Day centers for the elderly are rife with scabies and anemia; the seniors are emaciated, malnourished, and unclean. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 Many of the chihuahuas are emaciated and have varying illnesses, fleas and other medical concerns, according to Humane Indiana staff. — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Officers found Arabella Nix was severely emaciated, with her body completely covered in bruises and scars, according to the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026 Ultimately, Etna’s closest bond is with the itinerant medic Hong who nurses his emaciated, shrapnel-scarred body. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emaciated

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1627, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emaciated was in 1627

Rhymes for emaciated

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Emaciated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emaciated. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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