LANGUISHING Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

languishing 1 of 3

adjective

as in listless

lacking bodily energy or motivation his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities

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languishing

2 of 3

noun

as in failing

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Dissimilar Words

languishing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of languish

as in fading

to lose bodily strength or vigor older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave

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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

Adjective

What this effort points to is the need for a federal right of publicity statute, like the languishing NO FAKES bill. — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026 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

Americans are spending their days hustling and waiting for the opportunity to hustle, their days broken up into unpredictable units of work and languishing. — Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 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

For two years, the war in Gaza devastated the Palestinian enclave, killed tens of thousands of people, and left Israeli hostages languishing in captivity. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026 To avoid languishing at the airport, make sure the airline has several daily flights to your destination. — Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026 Peas in a pod Chan, a leader of the city’s progressive wing and a favorite of organized labor, was languishing until Pelosi delivered her endorsement in the final stretch of the primary campaign. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Netflix’s change in strategy comes as the streamer’s stock has been languishing. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 Beneath the megacap surface, legions of stocks are languishing in their own bear markets. — Daren Fonda, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 Some of the world’s best soccer stars and managers suddenly started signing for a club that had been languishing in mediocrity for some time. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 Even the Air Jordan 1 had a period of languishing on shelves in the ’90s, but the Air Force 1 has never had a comparable dip in appeal. — Olivia Cigliano, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026 Beneath the balcony, this street, witness to and confidante of the entire twenty-three years of these young people’s lives, was languishing in the fragrant July night, densely thronged with strolling city dwellers even now. — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for languishing

Adjective

With his team facing fourth-and-3, his deficit at 21-7 early in the third quarter and his offense teetering between flat and listless, Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski stood on the sideline, eyed his players and clapped his hands.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026
The Chargers, meantime, opened with three losses for the first time since 2017, and feature a listless, sputtering offense that lacks finish under first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of listless

Noun

In the documentation, the company is candid about its failings.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026
The Army report highlighted how the air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport could have prevented the crash, but also acknowledged the military’s own failings and other contributing factors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of failing

Verb

Fighting autocracy and inequality The Ford Foundation frames its new plan as its answer to rising autocracy, widening inequality, and fading public trust.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
In Brazil, Lula also faces fading support even among parts of his base as the economic backdrop looks different from the one that accompanied his first presidency.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of fading

Adjective

And most of us are tired of paying for the playthings of millionaires and billionaires.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Airbnb guests who are tired of spending the final hour of their vacation stripping beds and scrubbing pans are about to get a break.

— Lena Borrelli, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of tired

Noun

Miss Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny The largest is the sinking of a luxury ocean liner called the Empress of Ireland in 1914, in which 1,012 lives were lost off the coast of Canada.

— Lisa Henricksson, Air Mail, 17 Oct. 2026
As Brolin’s character explains in one of the film’s flashbacks, a whale fall is the marine biology term used to describe the death and sinking of a whale, and the delicate ecological dance that ensues.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sinking

Verb

Electing more allies could give either camp an edge in shaping AI policy in the next Congress, even as the feud risks weakening Silicon Valley's clout.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Today, despite low unemployment and easing inflation, frustration over everyday expenses is weighing on voter’s perception of the economy — and weakening Lula’s support.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of weakening

Noun

The most active group had less worsening of those motor symptoms than the least active group.

— Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Faster diagnosis can help people with early-stage Alzheimer’s qualify for drugs that can modestly slow the worsening of their symptoms.

— Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of worsening

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“Languishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languishing. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of languishing

adjective

noun

verb

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