languor

noun

lan·​guor ˈlaŋ-gər 

 also  -ər

1

: weakness or weariness of body or mind

the languor of convalescence

2

: listless indolence or inertia

languor brought on by a hot summer afternoon

Synonyms

• hebetude
• lassitude
• lethargy
• listlessness
• stupor
• torpor

Choose the Right Synonym for languor

lethargy, languor, lassitude, stupor, torpor mean physical or mental inertness.

lethargy implies such drowsiness or aversion to activity as is induced by disease, injury, or drugs.

months of lethargy followed my accident

languor suggests inertia induced by an enervating climate or illness or love.

languor induced by a tropical vacation

lassitude stresses listlessness or indifference resulting from fatigue or poor health.

a depression marked by lassitude

stupor implies a deadening of the mind and senses by shock, narcotics, or intoxicants.

lapsed into an alcoholic stupor

torpor implies a state of suspended animation as of hibernating animals but may suggest merely extreme sluggishness.

a once alert mind now in a torpor

Examples of languor in a Sentence

They enjoyed the languor brought on by a hot summer afternoon.

They felt an indefinable languor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Eastwood stars in both, and both suffer from some of the late-career languors that started to creep into his movies after a certain point, mostly due to a tendency to let dialogue scenes play on and on without much regard to rhythm or pace. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

That there was this kind of languor, a little bit of maturity. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024

The companionable dynamics in his scenes with Melling and Kene are a treat and help to leaven the languor that sets in the back-half of the run-time. —Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2024

By Judy Berman July 31, 2024 7:00 AM EDT Summer languor has set in on the TV calendar this July, as House of the Dragon and Love Island USA—but little else—have captivated viewers fresh off June’s The Bear binge. —Judy Berman, TIME, 31 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French langur, from Latin languor, from languēre

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

languor

noun

lan·​guor ˈlaŋ-(g)ər 

1

: weakness or weariness of body or mind

2

: a state of dreamy idleness

languorous

-(g)ə-rəs

adjective

languorously adverb