as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation
his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in failing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 languishing
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act was marked up and overwhelmingly approved in House Ways and Means in June for the first time after languishing for a decade-plus.
—Peter Sullivan, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024
Arsenal have transformed from a team languishing in mid-table to one contesting the game’s biggest prizes.
—James McNicholas, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
But despite getting several sponsors, the bills are languishing in committees due to a lack of support from key Democrats, advocates said.
—Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 14 Dec. 2024
Moreover, the narrative suggests that isolation and languishing in one’s self-interest frequently breeds the rot of morality.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
As the token itself exceeded the $100,000 level, XRP rebounds to fresh-all-time highs following years of languishing due to SEC legal actions, and talks of strategic bitcoin reserves evolve, crypto policy advocates are justifiably looking forward to 2025.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
But languishing at the bottom of the reliability list apparently had no bearing on overall consumer satisfaction.
—Ed Garsten, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
After languishing in court for years, ultimately becoming Georgia's longest-running criminal trial, the final two defendants received their verdicts Tuesday.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
Well, many of those objects - or fragments of them - are still there, languishing above Earth in an ever-expanding space junkyard.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act was marked up and overwhelmingly approved in House Ways and Means in June for the first time after languishing for a decade-plus.
—Peter Sullivan, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024
Arsenal have transformed from a team languishing in mid-table to one contesting the game’s biggest prizes.
—James McNicholas, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
But despite getting several sponsors, the bills are languishing in committees due to a lack of support from key Democrats, advocates said.
—Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 14 Dec. 2024
Moreover, the narrative suggests that isolation and languishing in one’s self-interest frequently breeds the rot of morality.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
As the token itself exceeded the $100,000 level, XRP rebounds to fresh-all-time highs following years of languishing due to SEC legal actions, and talks of strategic bitcoin reserves evolve, crypto policy advocates are justifiably looking forward to 2025.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
But languishing at the bottom of the reliability list apparently had no bearing on overall consumer satisfaction.
—Ed Garsten, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
After languishing in court for years, ultimately becoming Georgia's longest-running criminal trial, the final two defendants received their verdicts Tuesday.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languishing
Adjective
-
The off-white walls of this bygone home for the Warriors remain listless and barren.—
Daniel Brown,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Newcastle United were listless during their 3-1 defeat at Fulham on September 21 — and nobody appeared more out of sorts than Alexander Isak.—
Chris Waugh,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Despite efforts by the small Republican contingent in the state Legislature to cast light on these failings, the agency remained immune from true accountability until the pandemic-era disaster struck.—
Lanhee J. Chen,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2025
-
But the fund’s failings struck at the heart of New York’s intentions, said Eric Olson, a corporate and finance lawyer at Cleary Gottlieb, a white-shoe firm helping some licensees to develop their businesses pro bono.—
Ashley Southall,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The gel coating around the pads provides a nonabrasive experience that helps lift up tired skin.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
1 Apr. 2025
-
In their best offensive performance of the season against an admittedly tired and overmatched opponent, the Warriors had season highs in points and assists (42) and committed only 13 turnovers.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Moffett also said artificial intelligence isn’t driving an upgrade cycle as hoped, noting that there is weakening demand in China along with antitrust concerns.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2025
-
With high expectations for future new orders along with expanding current new orders, the outlooks for material handling and supply chain industries are positive, despite some weakening in the December MHI BAI report.—
Jason Schenker,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
King Charles cant get involved in Prince Harrys security woes: author Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of ‘My Mother and I,’ explains why the monarch is too exhausted to deal with his younger son’s ongoing court battle.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Factors like dehydration, sugar crashes, caffeine withdrawal and tolerance, and sleep cycle disruption can actually leave you more exhausted after an energy drink.—
Laura Dorwart,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Having only been in the job a week, Tudor altered the formation slightly, shifting from Motta’s limp 4-2-3-1 system to a more dynamic 3-4-2-1. Yildiz was paired with Teun Koopmeiners to function behind Dusan Vlahovic, another who had fallen foul of Motta but was restored under Tudor.—
Emmet Gates,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Destined to be reduced to mincemeat one way or another, the neo-Mickey's limp, naked body slowly slides out from the machine.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
As leaders in the industry who have spent countless hours underground repairing failing gas lines, our licensed gas contractors have witnessed firsthand the deterioration of our state’s natural gas infrastructure.—
Harley Flack,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Not spending enough time in the two deep stages of slumber might speed up the deterioration of parts of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study found.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
However, a weaker dollar, resulting from tariffs and other policies, makes that harder for exporters.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
After seven episodes of pained teeth-gritting and wide-eyed astonishment, he’s found closure in confronting the man who killed his father (or not) and finding only a weak old guy too sickly to punch.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Languishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languishing. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share