emaciated

adjective

ema·​ci·​at·​ed i-ˈmā-shē-ˌā-təd  -ˈmā-sē- 

: 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

Synonyms

• cadaverous
• gaunt
• haggard
• skeletal
• wasted

Examples of emaciated in a Sentence

the emaciated bodies of the survivors of the concentration camps

Recent Examples on the Web

Severely malnourished children are emaciated and typically lethargic or even unconscious, have cold hands, a rapid pulse, low blood pressure, and may be close to dying. —Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 2 Oct. 2024

Macy was found emaciated and struggling to survive. —Stephanie McBee, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2024

Pictures of their emaciated corpses were shown in court. —Kali Nicole Gross / Made By History, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024

Arthur shuffles out of his cell, seemingly more emaciated, all jutting shoulder bones on his exposed back. —Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined above