languish 1 of 4

as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

languishing

2 of 4

adjective

languishing

3 of 4

noun

languishing

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of languish

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
The property languished until Cruise and Abrams (now a producer) revived it with terms that were more favorable to the studio. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 May 2025 Unfortunately, the château and vineyards were decimated by phylloxera and continued to languish during World War I and World War II. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 8 May 2025
Verb
United is currently languishing 14th in the Premier League and is on track to finish in its lowest league position in decades. Ben Church, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025 Plans for a redevelopment of the languishing Enfield Square mall could get a crucial $10 million boost from a state economic development fund that could help lay the groundwork for razing the old mall and replacing it with apartments, hotels and new retail space. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for languish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish
Adjective
  • Game 6 was so confounding because the Celtics just looked listless from the start.
    The Athletic NBA Staff, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • While the show was a bit listless at first, everything changed in that fateful moment when Candice and Penner stepped off the mat.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • If this story were a parable, our hero would likely suffer some ignoble end as punishment for his moral failings.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 13 May 2025
  • In this newest cover-up, Clooney repeats his film’s original failing — its nostalgic salute to the power of electronic media suasion.
    Armond White, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some victims are already tired of fighting this fight.
    Ashley Belanger – May 19, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
  • At the end of the tour, people were tired, so most people ended up returning to the hotel and getting lunch afterwards.
    Janet B. Carson, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Humanitarian groups like the UN World Food Programme (WFP) exhausted supplies of basic staples weeks ago, forcing them to shut down their kitchens and bakeries, and everyday Palestinians are grinding up pasta and lentils to make flour for bread.
    NPR, NPR, 14 May 2025
  • The music video concludes with an exhausted and bloody Charli on the baggage claim carousel.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Disregard the packet’s rigid instructions — boiling them for exactly two minutes risks either a limp, lifeless tangle or an unpleasantly chewy bite.
    The Learning Network, New York Times, 20 May 2025
  • If the stalks are limp, rubbery, blemished, or dry and wood-like, and the tips mushy and discolored, then take a pass.
    Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Thanks to a weak front sliding across Central Florida, Thursday will be a bit cooler than prior days.
    Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025
  • The grand jury also criticizes city officials for weak oversight and enforcement of their contract with the Humane Society, which requires the nonprofit to enforce leash laws at 400 city parks and other venues.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Sulzberger writes passionately about the existential threats facing a free press, from economic collapse to political intimidation, and how journalism must stand as a bulwark in a time of profound civic deterioration.
    Jessica Sibley, Time, 19 May 2025
  • Dan Wang Eurasia The 90-day tariff reduction and break does not guarantee a deal, especially given the deterioration of mutual trust between the U.S. and China, said Natixis’ senior economist Gary Ng.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Once Upon a Time in Gaza is fairly tame, even a bit languid, in its opening sequences, until a corrupt cop (Ramzi Maqdisi) barges in to get a piece of Osama’s business.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
  • With its sprawling greens and languid creek, Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club is a suitable host for this year’s PGA Championship.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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