Definition of languidnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective languid differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of languid are lackadaisical, languorous, listless, and spiritless. While all these words 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

When could lackadaisical be used to replace languid?

The synonyms lackadaisical and languid are sometimes interchangeable, but lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

When is it sensible to use languorous instead of languid?

While the synonyms languorous and languid are close in meaning, languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

When is listless a more appropriate choice than languid?

The words listless and languid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

In what contexts can spiritless take the place of languid?

Although the words spiritless and languid have much in common, spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.

a spiritless recital of the poem

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 languid Aren’t the languid purple wisteria blooms so pretty this time of year? Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026 There’s a weird disconnect between the show’s pleasantly languid visual feel and its characters’ emotions. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026 The oversized teddy bear of a man with the languid baritone, who speaks with the eloquence of a poet, the encouragement of a coach, and the comfort of a minister, came up in the legendary Night Hawk in the 1970s. Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026 Nancy Epstein, founder and chairman of the board at Artistic Tile, chose walls of a custom glass mosaic in a languid lily pad pattern for her home. Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for languid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languid
Adjective
  • Cord grass ripples across these languorous northern marshes and, while ships lay wounded and stranded in the former Aral, all that remains of the old Parkgate are some very old photographs, showing frigates, sand, and some very fetching Victorian bathing attire.
    Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2026
  • As at Ha’s Snack Bar, the food is an elegant wallop of neon flavors, foregrounding the punctilious greenness of Vietnamese herbs and the languorous funk of organ meats and offcuts, but now there’s room to breathe, to relax a little, to take it all in, to linger.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the rest of the NBA is widely expected to be more competitive next season — from the bottom tier, where anti-tanking regulations and a weaker draft class should curb teams’ intentional losing, to the upper echelons, where Oklahoma City and San Antonio stand tall.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
  • Conditions change quickly, signals conflict with each other, and weak assumptions tend to get exposed without much delay.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • Start the day with grab-and-go breakfast tacos and end it with a leisurely dinner of Wagyu beef fajitas or the Dandy Don, an enchilada sampler made with locally famous La Norteña tortillas.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
  • Its activewear combines fitness, sports with the leisurely surf style.
    Ella Gonzales May 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2026
Adjective
  • The latest instance was a listless 5-0 loss in the finale of a series against the Reds, who took two of three against them at Great American Ball Park, dropping their record to 16-25.
    Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 10 May 2026
  • Carrying the largest payroll in franchise history with World Series-or-bust expectations, the Phillies have played listless baseball for much of April, entering Tuesday with a 9-19 mark.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • So, in retrospect, [the entire Lightning project] looked pretty feeble.
    Jamie Lincoln Kitman, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
  • His visit also comes as the committee stalls on advancing Casey Means, Kennedy’s nominee for surgeon general, over her lack of medical practice experience and feeble answers on the importance of vaccination.
    Daniel Payne, STAT, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But so far, progress has been slow — if not nonexistent.
    Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army has been engaged in a slow, hard slog in Ukraine.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • The film, which stars Hannah Einbinder as a filmmaker tasked with revamping a tired summer camp horror franchise with its cryptic lead played by Gillian Anderson in tow, is set to make its way to theaters this August.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
  • Each day, after teaching classes for a local extension office, taking online courses and caring for everyone, Denise is just tired.
    Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • While most healthy people can recover in four to seven days without treatment, some vulnerable groups, like children under 5, adults 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • The illness primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and their newborns, but can in some cases affect people outside of these groups, per FSIS.
    Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Languid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languid. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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