LANGUISH Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

languish

verb

ˈlaŋ-gwish

Definition of languish

as in to fade

to lose bodily strength or vigor older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 languish The new money does not benefit the thousands of eligible, low-income families who continue to languish on waitlists for the vouchers due to insufficient funding. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 However, Nike still languished as Hill's efforts to turn the company around were taking much longer than expected. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 Aside from the fact that my once-routine requests now languish for months, just asking for documents has become its own kind of shell game. — Al Shaw, ProPublica, 11 Aug. 2026 Willis wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school, languished on the bench two seasons at Auburn (14 total pass attempts), then transferred to finish college for the lower-tier Liberty Flames. — Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for languish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish

Verb

Similar bouts of traders closing short positions in early June and early July initially pushed prices higher before the gains eventually faded.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Isabelle Huppert and Virginie Efira led Farhadi’s French-language Parallel Tales, a film about Sylvie (Huppert), a fading novelist in search of inspiration for her next book, who starts spying on her neighbors across the street.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

But the White House cut its offices and weakened its ability to follow up with cases, as well as slashed funding to research on disparities that people of color face in getting diagnosed and attaining resources for disabilities.

— Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Higher debt can also weaken economic growth by crowding out private investment.

— Carolyn Bourdeaux, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Unconventional living situations going viral With rentals more expensive than ever, social media posts on how to save money in New York often rack up thousands of likes.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Some go years before receiving an accurate diagnosis or proper medical care.

— Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of go

Verb

Officers quickly converged to help subdue the teen, with Merks pulling the gun from the backside of his jeans, which had sagged below his mid-thigh.

— Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
The evacuation came after unpermitted construction work in the garage caused ceilings to sag and exposed rebar.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of sag

Verb

Some still laden with weapons, the ships belonged to Nazi Germany's Black Sea fleet that was deliberately sunk near the end of the war as German troops retreated from Romania and Soviet forces advanced deeper into Europe.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Some still laden with weapons, the ships belonged to Nazi Germany’s Black Sea fleet that was deliberately sunk near the end of the war as German troops retreated from Romania and Soviet forces advanced deeper into Europe.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of sink

Verb

Featuring tons of interviews from whistleblowers and ex-employees, this is a withering critique of capitalism that needs to be seen.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
No bear population, even one as obviously robust as the Southern one, could withstand the withering assaults of very many Colliers and his contemporaries.

— Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of wither

Browse Nearby Words

languidness

languish

languished

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“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of languish

verb

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