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

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

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

Former attorneys in the division worry that other preexisting cases are languishing. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

The Los Angeles Angels are currently Major League Baseball's worst team, languishing in last place in the AL West after being swept by the Boston Red Sox. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

His party is already languishing behind the PP in the polls, and there’s another scandal brewing that could well see him off. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 5 July 2026

With the stock still languishing in recent weeks, Jim argued that Meta needed to start moving in that direction. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 1 July 2026

After languishing for more than a year, Perry’s nomination for Chicago’s top federal law enforcement post was pulled, and Biden instead nominated her for federal district judge in 2024. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026

But the market has never trusted that the gap can be bridged, and the stock has been languishing below NAV for much of its history. — Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 8 June 2026