as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 languish
Ditto for his team’s penalty kill, which languishes in the Eastern Conference basement.
—
Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 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
Three years later he was relegated to the bench, languishing for six years before re-emerging to lead the Arizona Cardinals to their first-ever Super Bowl.
—Outside Online, 31 Dec. 2025
Boosters such as hedge fund manager Bill Ackman loaded up on the two in the hopes of scoring a windfall on any privatization plan, but the shares languished for years in over-the-counter trading as the status quo prevailed.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for languish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languish
Verb
-
The California Association of Realtors also predicts that, as economic uncertainty fades and rates begin to decline more steadily, the housing market should improve throughout 2026.—
-
As human activity and food waste returned, those differences appeared to fade in later generations.—
Verb
-
Evergreen branches bent under the weight of snow are already weakened; sweeping down the length of the branch toward the ground adds to the stress and increases the potential for breakage.—
-
These policies impose devastating costs on American citizens, weakening our economy, increasing the national debt, straining public budgets and tearing families apart.—
Verb
-
The Kings went into the halftime break with a 58-46 lead and a 22-5 advantage in fastbreak points.—
-
While strolling in New York City, Katie Holmes went for a casual vibe in baggy black jeans with a light jacket and a crossbody bag, while Jennifer Garner's pair had a touch of subtle elegance with gold-tone hardware.—
Verb
-
The fragile skeleton of her ego threatened to snap under the pressure of the animal forces that pressed down on her consciousness, her narrative mind sagging and distended beneath pitiless and grandiose feeling.—
-
Pre-festival enthusiasm sagged compared to the inaugural year.—
Verb
-
If the settlement failed to cover the amount owed, some funders went after the women for the remainder.—
-
Owner Mark Davis has failed for years to find answers, and this time around, Tom Brady appears to be taking control of the rebuild.—
Verb
-
Langkawi, Malaysia Reuters — The number of people confirmed dead after a boat carrying members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya community sank near the Thailand-Malaysia border rose to 11 on Monday, authorities said, with about 70 people believed to have been on board the capsized vessel.—
-
What caused the Edmund Fitzgerald to sink remains a point of debate and mystery a half-century later.—
Verb
-
Employment doldrums have affected even the state’s hallmark sectors, most obviously Southern California’s withering film and TV production industry and the Bay Area’s high technology concentration.—
-
For much of those eight years, Powell endured withering public criticism from the president, who named him as chair.—
Cite this Entry
“Languish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languish. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share