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 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 languishing
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
But all of these are either languishing in jails or under house arrest.
—Peter Nicholas, NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
Inventories growing rapidly can reflect unsold products languishing on shelves.
—The Motley Fool, Dallas Morning News, 18 Jan. 2026
Last month, a grand jury returned indictments against three sheriff’s deputies in the 2021 death of Maurice Monk, who died after languishing days in his cell.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Wondering where to wear the killer jumpsuit that's been languishing in the back of your closet?
—Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
Her seventh novel follows longtime friends Laura Miller and Edmund Putnam, both languishing in personal and professional troughs.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
After languishing on the market for over a year, Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman has finally managed to offload his modern farmhouse-style residence in the far western reaches of Studio City.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2026
After languishing in detention for over three months, Hermel made the difficult decision to self-deport to Ecuador.
—Carol Guzy, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 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
The album’s occasional lack of momentum is echoed in its lyrical focus on languishing and resisting change.
—Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
But all of these are either languishing in jails or under house arrest.
—Peter Nicholas, NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
Inventories growing rapidly can reflect unsold products languishing on shelves.
—The Motley Fool, Dallas Morning News, 18 Jan. 2026
Last month, a grand jury returned indictments against three sheriff’s deputies in the 2021 death of Maurice Monk, who died after languishing days in his cell.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Wondering where to wear the killer jumpsuit that's been languishing in the back of your closet?
—Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
Her seventh novel follows longtime friends Laura Miller and Edmund Putnam, both languishing in personal and professional troughs.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
After languishing on the market for over a year, Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman has finally managed to offload his modern farmhouse-style residence in the far western reaches of Studio City.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2026
After languishing in detention for over three months, Hermel made the difficult decision to self-deport to Ecuador.
—Carol Guzy, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languishing
Adjective
-
Tuesday night was one of those situations as the Blackhawks were listless for the better part of three quarters.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Pageau smashed home his second goal late in the third to finish off a listless Flyers team.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The report claimed these changes were made to minimize the city and fire department’s failings.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Foster acknowledged state efforts to hold the district accountable have at times been justified, including in 2023 when TEA investigated chronic failings in the district’s special education department.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the crushing depths of the ocean or the vacuum of deep space, one of the key threats to technology is the fading battery.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Amid the recent furore, that trust and respect seem to be all but fading.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While a few icons have grown tired (like the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Eden Roc Miami Beach, missing from this list), several have recently poured money into renovations, including the Mayfair House and Gardens; Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, which just reopened; and the Delano Miami.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Bell remembered during the Stars on Ice tour in 2022 when the skaters rolled into a new city, tired, groggy and sore from the long bus ride, Liu, dressed in a baggy hoodie and billowing sweatpants, could go on the ice and throw perfect jumps without warning.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The video did not mention any specific orders, but the six were plainly referring to the sinking of Venezuelan ships in international waters topped off by the killing of survivors clinging to the wreckage of their vessel.—
James D. Zirin,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the sinking.—
Michael Casey,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Unbalanced Or Leaning Tree A weakening root system or poor pruning practices can cause a tree to lean to one side.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
-
My opponent, Tim O’Hare, has led with ideology and performative politics, reducing transparency, weakening public participation, and creating financial instability through deficit-style budgeting and reserve spending.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But on the day the deal closed last week, Esnard sounded less jubilant and more exhausted.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Marc Maron, who helmed his engaging and transgressive interview show WTF for 13 years, is a Jersey Boy who sounds plaintive and exhausted.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If your skin reaction is severe, worsening, persistent, or associated with allergy symptoms, get prompt medical attention.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Over three years of follow-up, people who received the higher dose of the treatment showed slower worsening of their movement and daily functioning than a control group that did not receive the therapy.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Languishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languishing. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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