as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
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Recent Examples of languish
Lawmakers of both parties have expressed intense anger over the hospital funding cut, saying that individuals with mental health issues are languishing in emergency rooms and jail cells due to a shortage of psychiatric hospital beds.
—
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
The bill arrived in the Senate one day later but has languished ever since.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 1 June 2025
And then, as things oftentimes go, the adaptation languished for years.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 31 May 2025
His physical presence before adoring Cannes crowds—to say nothing of winning perhaps the most prestigious award in world cinema—was a stunning turnaround for a filmmaker who, just a few years earlier, had been languishing in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for languish
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
The bill arrived in the Senate one day later but has languished ever since.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 1 June 2025
And then, as things oftentimes go, the adaptation languished for years.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 31 May 2025
His physical presence before adoring Cannes crowds—to say nothing of winning perhaps the most prestigious award in world cinema—was a stunning turnaround for a filmmaker who, just a few years earlier, had been languishing in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for languish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish
Verb
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Once the uncertainty begins to fade, capital returns more quickly than most anticipate.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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The red measurement markings also have a tendency to fade over time, especially with frequent dishwasher use.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 June 2025
Verb
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But in an unexpected ruling in 2023, the Supreme Court declined an invitation to weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
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Abandoning recognition can erode motivation, diminish engagement and make employees feel invisible, weakening the cultural fabric and undermining long-term resilience.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
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The transponders onboard Relay 2 stopped responding to radio signals in June 1967, after which point the satellite went silent—until last June.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
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As the story goes, Jackson Pollock stepped onto a canvas in 1947, drizzled some paint here and there, and God reached a bony finger down from the heavens and pressed it upon the scale of art history, tilting it from Europe to the United States.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
24 June 2025
Verb
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The different firmness levels ensure that the mattress will never sag, regardless of the sleeper’s body type.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
13 June 2025
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Revising the menu and starting to bake some pastries fresh in store is all a part of the CEO’s plan to expand into the wellness sector and reverse sagging sales.—
Morgan Severson,
CNN Money,
11 June 2025
Verb
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The decline accelerated after reports indicated that Iran’s first attempt to retaliate by lobbing missiles toward a U.S. base in Qatar failed to cause any casualties.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
23 June 2025
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Phoenix was unable to propel itself back to the NBA Finals, losing in the Western Conference semifinals during the 2022-23 season, being ousted in the first round in the 2023-24 season and failing to even make the postseason this year.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Does the Trump administration really want to sink that low?—
Louis Balsamo,
Baltimore Sun,
25 June 2025
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Testing found that the limestone on which the foundation sat and the pile concrete were strong enough to support the building, and the basement slab showed no signs of cracking or sinking.—
Linda Robertson,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Super close, straight down the barrel, and with two actors who can command the shot where others might wither.—
Daron James,
IndieWire,
27 May 2025
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Sam Reinhart made it 5-1 on a goal off a faceoff as Leafs hopes withered.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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