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
The once-glittering Malvasia routes languished.
—
Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The cool nights and crisp clear days of fall rejuvenate flowering annuals and perennials that may have languished in the heat of summer.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
The very mention of a ‘Big Six’ can raise the hackles of supporters of the other 14 clubs, particularly after a season in which Newcastle, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest came fifth, sixth and seventh while Manchester United languished in 15th and Tottenham Hotspur 17th.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Multiple lawsuits were filed in 2020 that accused the city of being slow in releasing records, and thousands of requests — mostly to the police department — have languished in an online portal.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
This masterly music might have languished in obscurity—like most of Riley’s other records, which remain high-price rarities in the vinyl market—but for Columbia’s reach.
—William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Created in 2019, the specification had languished in relative obscurity for years because the cheap, plentiful non-Express microSD cards were generally fast enough for the things that people were using them for, and because most hardware didn't support microSD Express cards in the first place.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 15 Aug. 2025
Both bills, which have languished in the Senate since their respective 2015 and 2019 introductions, would block states from chipping away at anti-disenfranchisement and anti-gerrymandering laws.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Afterward, Streisand’s place languished on the market, eventually selling for $4 million — half of what Carey was said to have offered.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 13 Aug. 2025
Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The cool nights and crisp clear days of fall rejuvenate flowering annuals and perennials that may have languished in the heat of summer.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
The very mention of a ‘Big Six’ can raise the hackles of supporters of the other 14 clubs, particularly after a season in which Newcastle, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest came fifth, sixth and seventh while Manchester United languished in 15th and Tottenham Hotspur 17th.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Multiple lawsuits were filed in 2020 that accused the city of being slow in releasing records, and thousands of requests — mostly to the police department — have languished in an online portal.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
This masterly music might have languished in obscurity—like most of Riley’s other records, which remain high-price rarities in the vinyl market—but for Columbia’s reach.
—William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Created in 2019, the specification had languished in relative obscurity for years because the cheap, plentiful non-Express microSD cards were generally fast enough for the things that people were using them for, and because most hardware didn't support microSD Express cards in the first place.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 15 Aug. 2025
Both bills, which have languished in the Senate since their respective 2015 and 2019 introductions, would block states from chipping away at anti-disenfranchisement and anti-gerrymandering laws.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Afterward, Streisand’s place languished on the market, eventually selling for $4 million — half of what Carey was said to have offered.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languished
Verb
-
The stock market is still rallying to record highs, the Fed is widely expected to cut rates at its meeting later this month, and the general consensus is that recession risks have all but faded.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Not to worry though, say scientists at NASA, because another meteor shower happens in October well after the supermoon has faded.—
John Tufts,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Panthers are weakened without starting running back Chuba Hubbard.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Confidence in business conditions and job availability has weakened sharply, raising concerns that the spending power underpinning corporate growth could falter.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The counterculture had curdled, Vietnam was over but unsettled, and the economy sagged into stagflation.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The Democratic Party’s brand — as well as the approval rating for some of the state’s top Democratic officials — has indeed sagged, even in solidly blue Colorado, according to a recent poll.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In their second drive against the Broncos, the Eagles went no-huddle on a season-high seven straight plays.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Olson went four innings, scattering five hits and allowed just one run.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Again, on the heels of September’s rate, short-term Treasury yields sank, but the 10-year yield soared back to its highest point in nearly a fortnight.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
-
But after spending nearly three decades sitting dormant in Philadelphia, the ship was sold to Okaloosa County in Florida, to be sunk and turned into an artificial reef.—
Danny Freeman,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
On April 23, 1945, the USS Eagle 56 was fired upon and sunk by a German U-boat 853 in Casco Bay.—
Leanna Renee Hieber,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Shey Peddy drained a three to bring the score to 101-98, but the Fever’s immense efforts fell short as Young and Wilson sunk six free throws between them in the final 20 seconds to close out the series and advance to the Finals.—
Frank Nunns O'Connell,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Owners of The Grand, 1125 Grand Blvd, claim the parking lot’s owners have failed to provide adequate surveillance and security, and that their failure to do so has bred a hot spot for criminal activity.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Bell concluded that the plaintiffs failed to show that their data was misused as a result of the breach.—
Chase Jordan
October 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Languished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languished. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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