as in fades
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 languishes
Ditto for his team’s penalty kill, which languishes in the Eastern Conference basement.
—
Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
That blueprint has since become a template for developers eager to cultivate exclusivity while testing pricing in private and avoiding the public scrutiny of how many days a home languishes on the open market.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2025
Scientists are eager to bring Perseverance's haul — the 10 sample tubes dropped onto the crater floor in 2023 — back to laboratories on Earth, but their return remains uncertain as NASA's troubled Mars Sample Return program languishes in limbo.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
However, more volatility could be in store as bitcoin languishes more than 30% below its record high and nerves linger about the yen carry trade.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
The music, perhaps accordingly, sometimes languishes in a middle zone of wistful genre exercises.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
Only Kordia — mischaracterized by the government, largely overlooked by the public and caught in a legal maze — languishes in detention.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
The stock traded at well above $200 in 2021 but now languishes at about $84.
—John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Add a Showstopper If the focal point of your container garden languishes at the end of summer, replace it with a fresh, eye-catching plant.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languishes
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.—
-
Humans have been chewing gum for thousands of years, long after the flavor fades and without any clear nutritional benefit.—
Verb
-
An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).—
-
Ignoring this reality weakens any serious climate plan.—
Verb
-
Queen of minimalism, Janet has essentially just set type in panels—but the way the background sags like a deflating hot-air balloon, with the type recessed into it, is so wry and brilliant.—
Verb
-
The 4,000-square-foot Sky Terrace Penthouse goes a step further with a private studio equipped with a Peloton bike, Echelon Reflect fitness mirror, and Technogym bench.—
-
The fuzzy shearling interior and buttery soft suede outer is worth all the hype, and the chestnut hue goes with legit everything.—
Verb
-
The state’s latest energy plan fails to recognize and remedy this and portends a bleak, costly energy future, not to mention more pollution and higher health care costs.—
-
Holly added that any topic related to her wedding never fails to bring tears to her father's eyes.—
Verb
-
Street performers tune up, artists set out their work, and strangers lean shoulder to shoulder as the sun sinks into the Gulf for another Sunset Celebration.—
-
Over the following month, Jupiter sinks into the sun's glare.—
Cite this Entry
“Languishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languishes. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
