languor

noun

lan·​guor ˈlaŋ-gər How to pronounce languor (audio)
 also  -ər
1
: weakness or weariness of body or mind
the languor of convalescence
2
: listless indolence or inertia
languor brought on by a hot summer afternoon
Choose the Right Synonym for languor

lethargy, languor, lassitude, stupor, torpor mean physical or mental inertness.

lethargy implies such drowsiness or aversion to activity as is induced by disease, injury, or drugs.

months of lethargy followed my accident

languor suggests inertia induced by an enervating climate or illness or love.

languor induced by a tropical vacation

lassitude stresses listlessness or indifference resulting from fatigue or poor health.

a depression marked by lassitude

stupor implies a deadening of the mind and senses by shock, narcotics, or intoxicants.

lapsed into an alcoholic stupor

torpor implies a state of suspended animation as of hibernating animals but may suggest merely extreme sluggishness.

a once alert mind now in a torpor

Examples of languor in a Sentence

They enjoyed the languor brought on by a hot summer afternoon. They felt an indefinable languor.
Recent Examples on the Web That there was this kind of languor, a little bit of maturity. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024 The companionable dynamics in his scenes with Melling and Kene are a treat and help to leaven the languor that sets in the back-half of the run-time. Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2024 By Judy Berman July 31, 2024 7:00 AM EDT Summer languor has set in on the TV calendar this July, as House of the Dragon and Love Island USA—but little else—have captivated viewers fresh off June’s The Bear binge. Judy Berman, TIME, 31 July 2024 The French Vietnamese director, Tran Anh Hung, is contemporary cinema’s great poet of languor. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for languor 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'languor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French langur, from Latin languor, from languēre

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of languor was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near languor

Cite this Entry

“Languor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/languor. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

languor

noun
lan·​guor ˈlaŋ-(g)ər How to pronounce languor (audio)
1
: weakness or weariness of body or mind
2
: a state of dreamy idleness
languorous
-(g)ə-rəs
adjective
languorously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on languor

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