as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
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Recent Examples of languished
So far, however, most proposals to fix these problems at the state and local level have languished.
—
Alisa Kaplan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
It’s also been unevenly distributed, with some parts of the Metroplex experiencing major density and prosperity booms while other areas have languished.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Waldman’s killing languished as a cold case for decades, but her children refused to accept not knowing.
—August Phillips, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
That lawsuit, which languished in court for five years, included a class-action component and accumulated several hundred plaintiffs.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The mine languished for a decade, until a new company, Molycorp, tried, unsuccessfully, to compete with China and revive the business.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
The legislation was approved after the murder case languished for several years without a trial.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Since the mid-1980s, when the nation (led by California) shut down public mental hospitals (a response to patient abuses and a tax-cutting move), that segment of the health care world has languished.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Wendy's has also languished, losing 15% year to date.
—Itzel Franco, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
Alisa Kaplan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
It’s also been unevenly distributed, with some parts of the Metroplex experiencing major density and prosperity booms while other areas have languished.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Waldman’s killing languished as a cold case for decades, but her children refused to accept not knowing.
—August Phillips, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
That lawsuit, which languished in court for five years, included a class-action component and accumulated several hundred plaintiffs.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The mine languished for a decade, until a new company, Molycorp, tried, unsuccessfully, to compete with China and revive the business.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
The legislation was approved after the murder case languished for several years without a trial.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Since the mid-1980s, when the nation (led by California) shut down public mental hospitals (a response to patient abuses and a tax-cutting move), that segment of the health care world has languished.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Wendy's has also languished, losing 15% year to date.
—Itzel Franco, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languished
Verb
-
The national spotlight that once fixed on Dearborn during the 2024 election has faded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
But the Heat faded down the stretch and lost last night in the NBA Play-In Tournament.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With the war in Iraq raging, the 84-year-old pope, weakened by Parkinson’s disease and less than a year from his death, condemned the war in Iraq with Bush sitting right next to him.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Hezbollah, though weakened in its last war with Israel that ended in November 2024, still fires drones, rockets and artillery daily into northern Israel and on ground troops inside Lebanon.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Entering a key recruiting time, his return figures to have the impact of both stabilizing and energizing the program that has sagged in its last four NCAA Tournaments since winning the 2022 national title.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Heaps of leathery brown prickly pear pads sagged into the dirt and ash.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pereira went 2-for-3 with a walk in the game.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Brent Suter opened the game and went two-plus innings.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The study said the debris could have come from a foreign ship that sank—given the lack of information from the Russian side, who could say?—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
As revenue sank, the economy collapsed amid soaring inflation.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Both sides have tried and failed to advance their partisan priorities the last few months.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Former administrators of Freidenrich’s office have said that her investments were too conservative and failed to generate adequate returns.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Languished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languished. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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