Synonyms of languishing

languishing 1 of 3

adjective

as in listless

lacking bodily energy or motivation

his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities

Synonyms & Similar Words

• listless
• tired
• exhausted
• limp
• weak
• languid
• spiritless
• languorous
• lackadaisical
• weary
• sleepy
• enervated
• lazy
• sluggish
• lethargic
• torpid
• feeble
• indolent
• slothful
• indifferent
• careless
• inactive
• dull
• inert
• frail
• stolid
• heedless
• knackered
• apathetic
• phlegmatic
• impassive
• logy
• thoughtless
• unwary

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• active
• enterprising
• motivated
• ambitious
• animated
• energetic
• dynamic
• eager
• industrious
• pumped
• kinetic
• lively
• up
• enthusiastic
• keen
• avid
• vivacious
• cheerful
• sleepless
• perky
• awake
• watchful
• vigilant
• alert
• wide-awake
• dapper
• chipper
• agog
• open-eyed

languishing

2 of 3

noun

as in failing

Related Words

• failing
• sinking
• weakening
• worsening
• deterioration
• fading
• wilting
• withering
• degeneration
• decline
• wasting (away)
• regression
• relapse

Dissimilar Words

• rehabilitation
• recovery
• healing
• convalescence
• mending
• rehab
• recuperation
• revival
• rally
• comeback
• resuscitation
• survival
• snapback

languishing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of languish

as in fading

to lose bodily strength or vigor

older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fading
• weakening
• sagging
• going
• sinking
• failing
• decaying
• lagging
• drooping
• deteriorating
• flagging
• withering
• wilting
• wasting (away)
• emaciating
• rotting
• yielding
• wearing out
• degenerating
• breaking down
• running down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovering
• rallying
• recuperating
• gaining
• convalescing
• rebounding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of languishing

Adjective

What this effort points to is the need for a federal right of publicity statute, like the languishing NO FAKES bill. — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

The skyway corridors with highest density sit directly atop the most languishing streetscapes, Spencer said, and vice versa. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026

Noun

Americans are spending their days hustling and waiting for the opportunity to hustle, their days broken up into unpredictable units of work and languishing. — Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

With statewide homebuying languishing near Great Recession lows, aggressive asking prices seem to spur certain California homes to sell quickly. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026

As the castle’s internal order collapses under the weight of a string of baffling crimes, Araki strikes a fragile alliance with Kuroda Kanbei – a razor-minded captive languishing in his own dungeon – in a race to root out a traitor before Oda’s army closes in. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026

Verb

Despite more than 1 million people languishing in sprawling camps for almost a decade, as conditions deteriorate and aid shrinks, talk of repatriation is premature, according to analysts. — Lorcan Lovett, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026

Even with the team then languishing at 51-74 at the time, Pasquantino conveyed a certain sense of urgency. — Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, many other projects throughout the nationwide system of parks are languishing. — Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

While downtown Los Angeles is languishing, Burbank is booming. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

After languishing on the market for more than two years, former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley has finally offloaded his bluff-top residence in Malibu‘s exclusive Paradise Cove enclave. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2026

Dozens of immigrants who were previously detained for months at Alligator Alcatraz are now languishing and enduring horrible treatment at the Federal Detention Facility in Downtown Miami. — Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2026

In 2015, in response to a lawsuit that claimed mentally ill people were languishing in county jails for weeks and months, a federal court mandated Washington state provide competency evaluations and restoration services within two weeks. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026

Trump’s approval rating on the American economy has been languishing, and the latest import taxes could push those ratings further down. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 July 2026