as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation
his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in failing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of languishing
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
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
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The family moved to Kyiv before school started in the fall, resettling in a block of apartments that had been hastily reserved for families like theirs, edging out others who had been languishing on the housing list.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Nothing like a little bad blood to breathe a little life into a languishing rivalry.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Our worldview is that rates will come down eventually and unlock the housing market, which should turbocharge this languishing stock.
—Kevin Stankiewicz,alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
The timing of Promising Young Woman, premiering to big buzz at Sundance in 2020 and then languishing in pandemic purgatory before ultimately getting dumped onto VOD, was a disappointment.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Means’ languishing nomination after appearing for a confirmation hearing in February reflects the skepticism that lawmakers of both parties have expressed toward the direction Kennedy has taken his department.
—Mike Stobbe, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Thirty percent tips should be reserved for meals where the server is at least grabbing me a drink and clearing a plate, not handing me heat-lamp-languishing food in a 10-second interaction.
—Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Swalwell had held a slim lead in opinion polls over a crowded field of Democrats while Mahan, a darling of Silicon Valley, was languishing in the single digits.
—Eliyahu Kamisher, Bloomberg, 14 Apr. 2026
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
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
By the time Robins left 17 months ago, however, Coventry were languishing in 17th place and needing a spark.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The family moved to Kyiv before school started in the fall, resettling in a block of apartments that had been hastily reserved for families like theirs, edging out others who had been languishing on the housing list.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Nothing like a little bad blood to breathe a little life into a languishing rivalry.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Our worldview is that rates will come down eventually and unlock the housing market, which should turbocharge this languishing stock.
—Kevin Stankiewicz,alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
The timing of Promising Young Woman, premiering to big buzz at Sundance in 2020 and then languishing in pandemic purgatory before ultimately getting dumped onto VOD, was a disappointment.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Means’ languishing nomination after appearing for a confirmation hearing in February reflects the skepticism that lawmakers of both parties have expressed toward the direction Kennedy has taken his department.
—Mike Stobbe, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Thirty percent tips should be reserved for meals where the server is at least grabbing me a drink and clearing a plate, not handing me heat-lamp-languishing food in a 10-second interaction.
—Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Swalwell had held a slim lead in opinion polls over a crowded field of Democrats while Mahan, a darling of Silicon Valley, was languishing in the single digits.
—Eliyahu Kamisher, Bloomberg, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languishing
Adjective
-
That specificity and boldness don’t appear much on Yo Favorite Trappa Favorite Rappa, a listless album that’s fashioned like a 2000s mixtape.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
-
On Beef, Woosh (played by K-pop star BM) is a somewhat listless Korean Zoomer who works for chairman Park as a tennis instructor and also sells skincare products to the country club’s members.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not the individual failing, not even the generational one, but the architecture of permission that organized the emotional lives of everyone within its radius.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
The previous Lord of the Flies adaptations, whatever their failings otherwise, were similarly showcases for casting discoveries.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Best gentle shampoo for colored hair This award-winning shampoo and conditioner duo is made with organic rose oil and peaches, which revive dull or fading color.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
The Southern Living Plant Collection includes 'Sunset Celebration' gaillardia, which is red and yellow and resists fading.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Satonica credited Burse with reviving Grady’s professional governance, noticing tired nurses and overwhelmed leaders.—
Laura Berrios,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
-
Gee, can't imagine why fans were tired of Mark Hamill towards the end!—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The sinking has damaged part of the Friant-Kern Canal, a major water conduit for farms, reducing its carrying capacity and requiring $326 million in repairs.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
More than 20 million people are living on ground sinking above a reservoir.—
Briana Alvarado,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Dunn said Black domestic workers were often forced to work longer on election days by their white families, weakening their chances of casting a ballot.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
-
If next week’s jobs report shows a still resilient labor market, that could relieve investors wary of a weakening economic outlook.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
One of these supply sources will become exhausted as the conflict goes on, Woods said.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
-
Now, that funding is exhausted.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
However, the incidents have contributed to a worsening of the mood around Madrid and should also be considered notable for that reason.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
-
The South Bay has been able to absorb thousands of layoffs yet still avoid a worsening of the jobless rate in the region, Hancock noted.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Languishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languishing. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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