Synonyms of languishing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• listless
• tired
• exhausted
• limp
• weak
• languid
• spiritless
• languorous
• lackadaisical
• weary
• sleepy
• enervated
• lazy
• sluggish
• lethargic
• torpid
• feeble
• indolent
• slothful
• indifferent
• careless
• inactive
• dull
• inert
• frail
• stolid
• heedless
• knackered
• apathetic
• phlegmatic
• impassive
• logy
• thoughtless
• unwary

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• active
• enterprising
• motivated
• ambitious
• animated
• energetic
• dynamic
• eager
• industrious
• pumped
• kinetic
• lively
• up
• enthusiastic
• keen
• avid
• vivacious
• cheerful
• sleepless
• perky
• awake
• watchful
• vigilant
• alert
• wide-awake
• dapper
• chipper
• agog
• open-eyed

languishing

2 of 3

noun

as in failing

Related Words

• failing
• sinking
• weakening
• worsening
• deterioration
• fading
• wilting
• withering
• degeneration
• decline
• wasting (away)
• regression
• relapse

Dissimilar Words

• rehabilitation
• recovery
• healing
• convalescence
• mending
• rehab
• recuperation
• revival
• rally
• comeback
• resuscitation
• survival
• snapback

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fading
• weakening
• sagging
• going
• sinking
• failing
• decaying
• lagging
• drooping
• deteriorating
• flagging
• withering
• wilting
• wasting (away)
• emaciating
• rotting
• yielding
• wearing out
• degenerating
• breaking down
• running down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovering
• rallying
• recuperating
• gaining
• convalescing
• rebounding

Example Sentences

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

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

Pelosi’s endorsement sent Chan, who had been languishing in polls, surging past Democratic tech millionaire Saikat Chakrabarti in the June primary. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 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

Last year, Quad Cities lawmakers got funding for the languishing passenger rail line included as part of the massive transit rescue plan for the Chicago area that passed in last fall’s session. — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Lawyers who practice in Mississippi told ProPublica that many of their cases were languishing after the parties filed briefs and were waiting on a judge’s response. — Carla Astudillo, ProPublica, 3 Sep. 2026

Homes languishing on the market are rare for the Seattle area, long attractive for its plentiful jobs, lush scenery and lower cost of living than San Francisco, its fellow West Coast tech hub. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2026