LANGUISH Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

languish

verb

ˈlaŋ-gwish

Definition of languish

as in to fade

to lose bodily strength or vigor older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave

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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 Since then, Canada’s aerospace industry has largely languished. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026 Some of the world’s best soccer stars and managers suddenly started signing for a club that had been languishing in mediocrity for some time. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 Pelosi’s endorsement sent Chan, who had been languishing in polls, surging past Democratic tech millionaire Saikat Chakrabarti in the June primary. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 Even the Air Jordan 1 had a period of languishing on shelves in the ’90s, but the Air Force 1 has never had a comparable dip in appeal. — Olivia Cigliano, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for languish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish

Verb

That terrible scenario that doesn't easily fade definitely caused everyone to believe Quinn was at it again on Monday night – messing up again, forgetting that the last play was fourth down instead of third down.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Yet, in the urban South, recent linguistic research finds that the drawl’s most salient features are starting to fade on the lips of young speakers.

— Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

Conditions were expected to improve Saturday afternoon as winds weakened, with fair and dry weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
As trust in America weakens further, other wealthy nations will make the same calculation.

— Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Jayaprakash told Fortune that most of the new money will go toward purchasing more computing power.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Bauers and his wife, Lauren Bauers, sat down with ABC News’ Will Reeve to discuss his journey, going from nearly walking away from professional baseball in 2024 to being named the National League Championship Series MVP last week.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of go

Verb

China’s surging shipments are much more than just surplus production, the difference between what comes out of Chinese factories and what can be sold domestically in a sagging economy.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
In the grayness that should have been sunrise that morning, dark clouds sagged baggily over the very treetops, bulging as if ready to split under their liquid weight.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sag

Verb

Because Tesla’s bylaws count abstentions as votes against, the measure failed, Bloomberg reported.

— Heather Occhino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
In its ruling, the court said the parent group had failed to show Asian American students were harmed, because they were still being admitted at higher rates than the applicant pool.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of fail

Verb

That’s where the Chargers began sinking into that all-too-familiar quicksand, ultimately managing just six points.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
They are discovered well beyond the bounds of the strategic map, where the winds shift, the old answers sink, and the pilot must find the way by dead reckoning.

— Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of sink

Verb

Continue reading … UNHEARD TRUTH — Princess Diana feared Prince Harry would ‘wither’ in Prince William’s shadow.

— , FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
The legislation would also limit the length of licensing terms, reviving secondary markets that have largely withered away.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of wither

Browse Nearby Words

languidness

languish

languished

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“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of languish

verb

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