languorous

adjective

lan·​guor·​ous ˈlaŋ-gə-rəs 

-grəs,

 also  -ə-rəs

1

: producing or tending to produce languor

a languorous climate

those hot and languorous southern days

2

: full of or characterized by languor

a languorous soak in the tub may be a rare respite for most women

—Vogue

languorously adverb

Synonyms

• languid
• listless
• lackadaisical
• tired
• spiritless
• exhausted
• sleepy
• limp
• languishing
• weak

Choose the Right Synonym for languorous

languid, languorous, lackadaisical, listless, spiritless mean lacking energy or enthusiasm.

languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness.

was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery

languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

listless suggests a lack of interest caused by physical weakness or dissatisfied boredom.

listless hospital patients

listless children flipping through picture books on a rainy day

spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.

a spiritless recital of the poem

Examples of languorous in a Sentence

the drummer's languorous playing caused the rest of the band to keep missing the beat

Recent Examples on the Web

And throughout a 100-minute show, Cain recounted the story of a preacher’s daughter through wailing vocals, haunting drones, and meditative, languorous chants. —Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025

Planned or not, that mess is smoothed out as the film proceeds, and Washington’s performance goes from languorous and dazed to razor-sharp and darkly humorous—reminiscent of the work he’s done for Lee in the past. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2025

Summer ’25 is all about languorous mornings and late afternoon bike rides with fresh baguettes in the basket. —Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025

The film moves at the languorous speed of a humid summer day. —Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1