languish

verb

ˈlaŋ-gwish How to pronounce languish (audio)
Definition of languishnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 For two years, the war in Gaza devastated the Palestinian enclave, killed tens of thousands of people, and left Israeli hostages languishing in captivity. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026 To avoid languishing at the airport, make sure the airline has several daily flights to your destination. — Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026 Netflix’s change in strategy comes as the streamer’s stock has been languishing. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 But in the decade since, the project languished and Mana never got underway on the development that would have replaced the venue currently on the site. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for languish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish
  1. fade
  2. weaken
  3. go
  4. sag
  5. fail
  6. sink
  7. wither
Verb
  • Outside that period, stations are allowed to use a winter blend, which is cheaper to produce, explaining why prices often fade in the fall.
    — Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Oil prices have fallen sharply in recent days on hopes that the Iran conflict is fading, and gas costs are falling this month.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • Moscow has battered Ukraine’s power grid each winter since the war began, hoping to weaken public morale.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Moscow has battered Ukraine’s power grid each winter during the war, hoping to weaken public morale.
    — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Jones’ uncle, Christopher Mathews, described the head coach as a positive Black man in his community who goes above and beyond for his players and students.
    — Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Most of the money would have been used to backfill federal funding cuts to healthcare, and 10% would have gone toward education and food-assistance programs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of go
Verb
  • But that first 1950s iteration, played by both a puppet and a man lumbering in a baggy costume, had dead Muppet eyes and the sagging physique of a gym teacher.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Tech stocks have sagged as investors grow concerned over their ballooning debt piles at a time of rising interest rates.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of sag
Verb
  • Just the other day, a source was venting to me about how Silicon Valley billionaires have failed to use their wealth to improve their own surroundings.
    — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The Hope spent much of its time ferrying sailors and the wounded from other ships or ports to military hospitals, and like the Comfort, it too was attacked multiple times, though each attack failed, usually just missing the ship.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of fail
Verb
  • Marvell shares slumped 13% in trading Monday, while Lumentum's stock sank nearly 19%.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026
  • So my heart sank, and Mike Hodges, who’s next to me, whispers in my ear.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of sink
Verb
  • Hunter Biden also had faced years of scrutiny and withering Republican attacks over his international business dealings.
    — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Branches can wither from severe weather, disease, insect damage, or other injuries to the tree.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of wither

Browse Nearby Words

languidness
languish
languished
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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