as in fades
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
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Recent Examples of languishes
Only Kordia — mischaracterized by the government, largely overlooked by the public and caught in a legal maze — languishes in detention.
—
Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
The stock traded at well above $200 in 2021 but now languishes at about $84.
—John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Add a Showstopper If the focal point of your container garden languishes at the end of summer, replace it with a fresh, eye-catching plant.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025
Replacing Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto after just six races into the 2025 season, the Argentinian has failed to impress as the team languishes at the bottom of the standings.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Sectors that have lagged year to date, including health care, energy and real estate, are outperforming this week — while tech languishes.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
While the former feels intense pressure to provide for his family, the latter languishes as a result of a lifelong lack of love and encouragement.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile the naira currency languishes at record lows against the dollar.
—Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
In Lower Manhattan, 40 Wall Street languishes, with tenants vacating the office tower and profits falling.
—Dan Alexander, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
The stock traded at well above $200 in 2021 but now languishes at about $84.
—John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Add a Showstopper If the focal point of your container garden languishes at the end of summer, replace it with a fresh, eye-catching plant.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025
Replacing Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto after just six races into the 2025 season, the Argentinian has failed to impress as the team languishes at the bottom of the standings.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Sectors that have lagged year to date, including health care, energy and real estate, are outperforming this week — while tech languishes.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
While the former feels intense pressure to provide for his family, the latter languishes as a result of a lifelong lack of love and encouragement.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile the naira currency languishes at record lows against the dollar.
—Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
In Lower Manhattan, 40 Wall Street languishes, with tenants vacating the office tower and profits falling.
—Dan Alexander, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languishes
Verb
-
That’s where Logano’s optimism fades.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Tailgating Tips Getting it Right Clemson’s shady campus is leafy and green in August and September, turning red and gold as summer fades to fall.—
Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Blocking them causes disruption to the cells’ energy-generating mitochondria and leads to oxidative stress, which further weakens cancer.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Even as the storm weakens over Baja California, its tropical moisture will continue to drift north, fueling intense downpours and possible flooding across the Southwest.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Same goes for their boss, Jason Kidd.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
These two puzzles are both relevant to the fundamental properties and constituents of the Universe, but as far as the resolution goes, that will have to await our scientific future.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The defense also contends that Trump, as a public figure, must show actual malice—proof that the Journal knew its reporting was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth—and that the complaint fails to do so.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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The latest changes—and what might come next Advertisement The 2025 civics test is similar to the 2020 one, except officers will only be required to ask questions until the applicant either passes or fails the test.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The vessel then gradually sinks deeper and deeper into the sea until it is fully submerged by the end of the clip.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Take a deep inhale through your nose, and tilt your pelvis toward you so your belly button sinks down and your back goes flat on the ground.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Languishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languishes. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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