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 fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in failing
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of languishing
Chad De Guzman, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
But other corners of the Argentine economy are languishing, and the president’s party got trounced in local elections earlier this month.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, Thirtysomething is still languishing in streaming purgatory, with the show only available to watch on DVD.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
The leader of a program pairing low-income criminal defendants with free attorneys is out of her job, after a shortage of lawyers in Alameda County delayed prosecutions and left defendants languishing for weeks at the Santa Rita Jail.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Julia, getting exasperated, asks if Adriana has checked in on her children, which is probably a much bigger thing than Adriana’s languishing music career.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
However, only months before that deadline, the effort is languishing.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
While socialites and celebrities once clamored to buy sprawling apartments at buildings like River House and 1 Sutton Place, co-ops in the area have been languishing on the market — often for years.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
Scott, Derek Jeter’s first Marlins draft pick, is languishing in his seventh year in the minors, now in the Royals’ system.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
The country ranks 118th among 148 economies, the lowest among G-7 members, in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, languishing particularly in the political empowerment metric.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
But other corners of the Argentine economy are languishing, and the president’s party got trounced in local elections earlier this month.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, Thirtysomething is still languishing in streaming purgatory, with the show only available to watch on DVD.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
The leader of a program pairing low-income criminal defendants with free attorneys is out of her job, after a shortage of lawyers in Alameda County delayed prosecutions and left defendants languishing for weeks at the Santa Rita Jail.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Julia, getting exasperated, asks if Adriana has checked in on her children, which is probably a much bigger thing than Adriana’s languishing music career.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
However, only months before that deadline, the effort is languishing.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
While socialites and celebrities once clamored to buy sprawling apartments at buildings like River House and 1 Sutton Place, co-ops in the area have been languishing on the market — often for years.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
Scott, Derek Jeter’s first Marlins draft pick, is languishing in his seventh year in the minors, now in the Royals’ system.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languishing
Adjective
-
The Broncos were at the listless, rudderless end of The Bowlen Trust Years.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Hiring activity has been listless this year, and the latest data isn’t showing much of a turnaround.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to researcher and photographer Roberto García-Roa, the vibrant pigments that butterflies once relied on to attract mates and hide from prey are now fading away as colorful tropical forests are replaced with monochrome infrastructure.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The traditional distinctions between linear and streaming are fading away for sports, however.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As was Matthiessen’s self-awareness about his own moral failings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
So [in the film], there’s this sort of notion that, if a movie star kind of represents us in all our failings and humanity, what does that mean exactly?—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Bradley said that, from the Chamber’s perspective, employers are sick and tired of scrounging for talent.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
By suddenly disclosing its true holdings, China could drive up gold prices while signaling stronger backing for the renminbi, thus weakening the dollar’s global clout.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Recent economic data has suggested a weakening labor market and inflation up a touch, but not so much as to crack the stock market.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The most common cause is underwater earthquakes that force the seafloor to move vertically, either rising or sinking, which displaces massive volumes of water.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The ship is so famous because its sinking was disastrous, but not tragic – Shackleton guided all 27 crew members to safety and was able to slowly remove cargo, supplies and boats before the vessel sank.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Which, it should be pointed out, had to be fairly exhausted at that point.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Outside the courthouse following his victory, Sussman sounded exhausted.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Representing Super has taken on a tough job, reviving a sagging brand while activist investors send spitballs in from the outside and competitors look to take share.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Protests about immigration and sagging ticket sales were among the reasons cited for the move, according to sources.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Languishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languishing. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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