as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation
his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 languish
Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
And a Picasso masterpiece is languishing in a basement in Tehran.
—Angela Cullen, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
Hicks urged Democrats languishing at the bottom of the field of candidates to drop out before the Friday deadline to officially file to run for governor — to ensure their names do not appear on the June primary ballot.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for languish
Verb
The mine languished for a decade, until a new company, Molycorp, tried, unsuccessfully, to compete with China and revive the business.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
And a Picasso masterpiece is languishing in a basement in Tehran.
—Angela Cullen, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 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
Verb
This hunch was borne out when the astronomers found that, even though the globular clusters were languishing in an empty stretch of Perseus, they were surrounded by a halo of glowing matter — a telltale sign of a galaxy.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
Hicks urged Democrats languishing at the bottom of the field of candidates to drop out before the Friday deadline to officially file to run for governor — to ensure their names do not appear on the June primary ballot.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for languish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish
Adjective
-
This sense of being listless without Kane is nothing new.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Smith’s swing capped a six-run ninth for the Braves, who were mostly listless offensively until that point.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Your experience was not a personal failing.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Because the Duggars adhere to a fundamentalist fringe of evangelicalism, the liberal media are often quick to use the family’s failings as a cautionary tale about Christianity in general, and conservatives can be too quick to interpret criticism of the family as criticism of the church.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
They have been seen directing snaking security lines and passing out water bottles to tired travelers.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Step in when someone’s tired or needs a break.—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line are also off course, running aground and sinking.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
This isn't a part -- this isn't just about a ship sinking.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Families are still overwhelmed and caregivers are still exhausted, and far too many conversations are still happening too late.—
Alex Rizo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Why tire himself out, become completely exhausted and out of breath, crumple up the bedsheets that were changed just a few days ago, get someone else’s germs all over himself, and then reek of sweat afterward?—
Agnieszka Szpila,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Higher energy prices are also expected to widen India’s current account deficit, which has contributed to a weakening of the local currency, with the rupee touching record lows in recent days.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
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Another displacement or weakening of the polar vortex is underway, which can allow bursts of Arctic air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast at times, according to AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Tagovailoa era didn’t fail because Miami’s offense wasn’t innovative enough, or the defense was limp.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Best Deals at the Quince Sale If your current towels are limp, scratchy, or just plain uninspired, Quince’s Turkish Classic Bath towels are an instant bathroom upgrade.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Two of the people with MS, including Miller, have progressive MS, a form of the disease marked by gradual worsening of neurological function and disabilities over time.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
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With America’s loneliness epidemic worsening, there’s a real risk of suicide rates continuing to rise.—
Sam Manzella,
Flow Space,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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