languish 1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈlaŋ-gwish How to pronounce languish (audio)
Definition of languishnext
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

languishing

2 of 4

adjective

as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

languishing

3 of 4

noun

as in failing

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Dissimilar Words

languishing

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of languish
as in fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of languish
Verb
Even the Air Jordan 1 had a period of languishing on shelves in the ’90s, but the Air Force 1 has never had a comparable dip in appeal. — Olivia Cigliano, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026 Beneath the balcony, this street, witness to and confidante of the entire twenty-three years of these young people’s lives, was languishing in the fragrant July night, densely thronged with strolling city dwellers even now. — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
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
Verb
Beneath the balcony, this street, witness to and confidante of the entire twenty-three years of these young people’s lives, was languishing in the fragrant July night, densely thronged with strolling city dwellers even now. — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026 Last year, Quad Cities lawmakers got funding for the languishing passenger rail line included as part of the massive transit rescue plan for the Chicago area that passed in last fall’s session. — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for languish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish
  1. fade
  2. weaken
  3. go
  4. sag
  5. fail
  6. sink
  7. wither
Verb
  • Decked out in traditional Virginia style furnishing and framed prints, the charm of the resort doesn’t fade where guests rest their heads.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Community organizations spent decades cultivating wealthy baby boomer donors, and so that connection fades with each generation removed from the original donors.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • Once Isaias comes ashore, it is expected to weaken until it is downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, the hurricane center said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Last but certainly not least, there’s the focus on communicating local relevancy as a differentiator without weakening brand equity and DNA.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • But this is an album that’s apparently about the artist’s double life, and the questions that are bound to be at the forefront of any curious listener’s mind go unaddressed.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Her bravery reverberates across the country and the crimes against her will not go unpunished.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of go
Verb
  • But as of last year, its sales tax revenues had sagged by almost 90% in a quarter-century.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Like yet another Kenneth Walker III outburst, including a 76-yard run when the Chiefs were sagging late in the third quarter.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of sag
Verb
  • The three-stage rocket failed during its debut mission in October 2021 but is now riding a streak of four straight successes.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The financial troubles are especially concerning because the Los Angeles Unified School District has failed to meet past budget reduction targets, the report concluded, and the stakes have become higher, with solutions more painful to carry out.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of fail
Verb
  • Saint Laurent sales sank 9 percent in 2024, then another 6 percent last year, amid softening demand in Asia and a cooling attitude toward Vaccarello’s rock ’n’ roll aesthetic and metallic fabrics.
    — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The 1996 Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino collaboration From Dusk Till Dawn springs immediately to mind, but, compared to that, director Samjad sinks his teeth into the meat of his movie in next to no time.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sink
Verb
  • Those production lines were shut down after the Soviet breakup in 1991, and the industry has since mostly withered.
    — Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The throuple moved into faculty housing, where Lakofski withered, depressed by life in a conventional apartment.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of wither

Browse Nearby Words

languidness
languish
languished
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Cite this Entry

“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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