Synonyms of languish

languish 1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈlaŋ-gwish 

as in to fade

to lose bodily strength or vigor

older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fade
• weaken
• go
• sag
• fail
• sink
• wither
• decay
• deteriorate
• wilt
• droop
• lag
• waste (away)
• emaciate
• flag
• rot
• wear out
• yield
• break down
• degenerate
• run down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recover
• recuperate
• rebound
• rally
• gain
• convalesce

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• listless
• tired
• exhausted
• limp
• weak
• languid
• spiritless
• languorous
• lackadaisical
• weary
• sleepy
• enervated
• lazy
• sluggish
• lethargic
• torpid
• feeble
• indolent
• slothful
• indifferent
• careless
• inactive
• dull
• inert
• frail
• stolid
• heedless
• knackered
• apathetic
• phlegmatic
• impassive
• logy
• thoughtless
• unwary

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• active
• enterprising
• motivated
• ambitious
• animated
• energetic
• dynamic
• eager
• industrious
• pumped
• kinetic
• lively
• up
• enthusiastic
• keen
• avid
• vivacious
• cheerful
• sleepless
• perky
• awake
• watchful
• vigilant
• alert
• wide-awake
• dapper
• chipper
• agog
• open-eyed

languishing

3 of 4

noun

as in failing

Related Words

• failing
• sinking
• weakening
• worsening
• deterioration
• fading
• wilting
• withering
• degeneration
• decline
• wasting (away)
• regression
• relapse

Dissimilar Words

• rehabilitation
• recovery
• healing
• convalescence
• mending
• rehab
• recuperation
• revival
• rally
• comeback
• resuscitation
• survival
• snapback

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fading
• weakening
• sagging
• going
• sinking
• failing
• decaying
• lagging
• drooping
• deteriorating
• flagging
• withering
• wilting
• wasting (away)
• emaciating
• rotting
• yielding
• wearing out
• degenerating
• breaking down
• running down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovering
• rallying
• recuperating
• gaining
• convalescing
• rebounding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of languish

Verb

But the maneuver failed to budge Comcast’s listless stock, which has languished for years as its primary business lost thousands of broadband customers. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Comcast’s stock has languished for years, reflecting Wall Street skepticism about its combination of content and distribution and its ability to compete with the likes of Netflix. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 29 June 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

But the market has never trusted that the gap can be bridged, and the stock has been languishing below NAV for much of its history. — Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 8 June 2026

In April, the moderate Democrat was languishing in the single digits in several polls. — Terry Collins, USA Today, 6 June 2026