Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective languorous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of languorous are lackadaisical, languid, listless, and spiritless. While all these words mean "lacking energy or enthusiasm," languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

When is it sensible to use lackadaisical instead of languorous?

In some situations, the words lackadaisical and languorous are roughly equivalent. However, lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

When can languid be used instead of languorous?

The synonyms languid and languorous are sometimes interchangeable, but languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness.

was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery

When would listless be a good substitute for languorous?

While in some cases nearly identical to languorous, listless suggests a lack of interest caused by physical weakness or dissatisfied boredom.

listless hospital patients
listless children flipping through picture books on a rainy day

In what contexts can spiritless take the place of languorous?

The meanings of spiritless and languorous largely overlap; however, spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.

a spiritless recital of the poem

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 languorous The rhymed verse the characters speak in doesn’t at all hinder them from expressing themselves colloquially, in idioms that sound better with a languorous Southern lilt. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2024 Rozier constructs his love triangle (or, rather, square) without an ounce of melodrama, focusing as much on the vacation’s languorous atmosphere—and its giddy effect on the friends’ inside jokes and childish slapstick—as on the slow-burn plot. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 15 July 2024 The nocturnal characters spend languorous nights in bars, opera houses, brothels. Judy Berman, TIME, 1 July 2024 But on its own, Season 3 was like a long, languorous meal served over the course of several hours. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 30 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for languorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languorous
Adjective
  • Enjoy a languid afternoon in the outdoor bathtub situated beneath a canopy of trees.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2025
  • For the first time since 1986, St. John’s won both the Big East regular and conference tournament championships; the Red Storm packed Madison Square Garden all season and brought pizazz back to a New York City college basketball scene that felt languid for decades.
    Sean Gregory, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
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
Adjective
  • It’s been striking to watch Vancouver compete over the past week and to contrast it with some of the lackadaisical efforts that characterized so much of this campaign back in the fall.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The Super Bowl champion, who is more known for his lackadaisical style than being a stuffy analytical figure, was in a white button-down shirt in between Ryan Clark and Marcus Spears.
    Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • 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
  • Here is a puzzle that should bring back memories for many solvers: settling down into a spacious middle seat, groping for seatbelts, suffering through the same tired safety notices.
    Sam Corbin, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Dance sections lacked charm; lyric passages were spiritless; the klezmer episodes in the third movement were strictly goyish.
    Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Yet the club dropped the contest in spiritless fashion, 6-2.
    Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
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
  • It is situated next to a sleepy mobile home park, some single-family home neighborhoods and the park.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
  • This delicious sleep aid comes in five different flavors: mint chocolate, hot cocoa, cinnamon chai, sleepy berry and rose.
    Bianca Salonga, Forbes.com, 1 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

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Cite this Entry

“Languorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languorous. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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