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
Bitcoin has languished this year and is down more than 40% since its record high in early October.
—
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Until very recently, Mahmoudian was one of thousands of prisoners languishing in Iran’s prisons.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Which leaves people like Olivo, Torres and tens of thousands of other Miamians to continue languishing in temporary dwellings.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
The prospect of languishing in the minority means vulnerable GOP members may be more inclined to rebuke the president in the coming months.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for languish
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Until very recently, Mahmoudian was one of thousands of prisoners languishing in Iran’s prisons.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Which leaves people like Olivo, Torres and tens of thousands of other Miamians to continue languishing in temporary dwellings.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
The prospect of languishing in the minority means vulnerable GOP members may be more inclined to rebuke the president in the coming months.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for languish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish
Verb
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Will those quality wins be enough to bolster the tournament hopes that seem to fade with each score update from across the country?—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
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Similarly, faded or outdated trim and porch columns stick out in a modern neighborhood, but these features can be updated with a quick coat of paint or stain to enhance the look of your home.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When presidents sidestep formal addresses and Congress declines to insist upon them, the deliberative architecture of the republic weakens.—
Kenneth Zagacki,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026
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High supply and weakening renter demand have apartment landlords living in an ever-more competitive space.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His Jayhawks went 1-1 at the Big 12 tournament, defeating TCU 78-73 on Thursday before getting clobbered by Houston 69-47 in Friday’s semifinals.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The team that went undefeated in the regular season, racked up more victories than anyone but Duke and Arizona -- and fewer losses than any team at all -- is anything but your run-of-the-mill basketball behemoth.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While much of those streaming sales were non-sports commitments, the flow of ad dollars away from linear TV will accelerate as the primetime entertainment properties continue to sag under the weight of their cultural irrelevancy.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Heaps of leathery brown prickly pear pads sagged into the dirt and ash.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some candidates who submitted petitions by the March 4 deadline failed to qualify because some of their signatures were deemed invalid.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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Republicans, who control half of the Minnesota House, pointed out that DHS failed to detect fraud for years.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 287-foot freighter was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef in 1985.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
This time, Trent Perry sank two more from the stripe.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the ’80s, a withering syndrome bacteria — the origin of which remains a mystery — dropped the population further.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
14 Mar. 2026
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In elsewhere about his relationships with his parents, his girlfriend, and love interests that withered to nothing.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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