Languishing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective noun /ˈlaŋ-gwish/ lan·guish

Meaning & Definition of Languishing

Languishing (verb)

  1. to be or become feeble, weak, or enervated
  2. to be or live in a state of depression or decreasing vitality
  3. to become dispirited

Languishing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking bodily energy or motivation

    "his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities"

    similar: enervated, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, limp, listless, spiritless
    related: indolent, lazy, slothful, dull, lethargic, logy, sleepy, sluggish, torpid, exhausted, knackered (British), tired, weary, feeble, frail, weak, apathetic, impassive, indifferent, phlegmatic, stolid, careless, heedless, thoughtless, unwary, inactive, inert
    opposite: ambitious, animated, energetic, enterprising, motivated
    near: active, dynamic, industrious, kinetic, avid, eager, enthusiastic, keen, lively, pumped, vivacious, cheerful, chipper, perky, up, agog, alert, awake, dapper, open-eyed, sleepless, vigilant, watchful, wide-awake

Languishing (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in decline, deterioration

    similar: decline, degeneration, deterioration, fading, failing, sinking, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering, worsening, regression, relapse
    opposite: comeback, convalescence, healing, mending, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehab, rehabilitation, snapback, resuscitation, revival, survival

Languishing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to lose bodily strength or vigor

    "older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave"

    similar: decaying, drooping, emaciating, fading, failing, flagging, going, lagging, sagging, sinking, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering
    related: breaking down, wearing out, yielding, degenerating, deteriorating, rotting, running down
    near: convalescing, rallying, rebounding, recovering, recuperating, gaining

Related Entry: Languish (verb)

Languish is a different word from Languishing. The synonyms below are for languish, not for languishing.

  1. to lose bodily strength or vigor

    "older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave"

    similar: decay, droop, emaciate, fade, fail, flag, go, lag, sag, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither
    related: break down, wear out, yield, degenerate, deteriorate, rot, run down
    near: convalesce, rally, rebound, recover, recuperate, gain

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Languishing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Languishing:

enervated, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, limp, listless, spiritless, decline, degeneration, deterioration, fading, failing, sinking, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering, worsening, regression, relapse, decaying, drooping, emaciating, flagging, going, lagging, sagging

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Languishing

Words with the opposite meaning of Languishing:

ambitious, animated, energetic, enterprising, motivated, comeback, convalescence, healing, mending, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehab, rehabilitation, snapback, resuscitation, revival, survival

Related Words for Languishing

indolent, lazy, slothful, dull, lethargic, logy, sleepy, sluggish, torpid, exhausted, knackered, tired, weary, feeble, frail, weak, apathetic, impassive, indifferent, phlegmatic, stolid, careless, heedless, thoughtless, unwary, inactive, inert, breaking down, wearing out, yielding

Near Antonyms of Languishing

active, dynamic, industrious, kinetic, avid, eager, enthusiastic, keen, lively, pumped, vivacious, cheerful, chipper, perky, up, agog, alert, awake, dapper, open-eyed, sleepless, vigilant, watchful, wide-awake, convalescing, rallying, rebounding, recovering, recuperating, gaining

Word Forms of Languishing

Inflections: languished, languishes

Derived words: languisher (noun), languishingly (adverb), languishment (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Languishing

Middle English, from Anglo-French languiss-, stem of languir, from Vulgar Latin *languire, from Latin languēre

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Languishing

What does "Languishing" mean?

"Languishing" means to be or become feeble, weak, or enervated. As an a verb, an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: to be or become feeble, weak, or enervated. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Languishing"?

Other words for "Languishing" include enervated, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, limp, listless, spiritless and decline. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Languishing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Languishing"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Languishing". Common alternatives include enervated, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, limp, listless, spiritless, decline, degeneration and deterioration.

What is the opposite of "Languishing"?

Antonyms of "Languishing" include ambitious, animated, energetic, enterprising, motivated, comeback, convalescence and healing. Near antonyms include active, dynamic, industrious and kinetic.

How do you use "Languishing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Languishing" in a sentence: "his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities"; "older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave".

Is "Languishing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Languishing" can be used as a verb, an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Languishing"?

"Languishing" is pronounced /ˈlaŋ-gwish/ and divided into syllables as lan·guish.

What is the origin of the word "Languishing"?

"Languishing" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French languiss-, stem of languir, from Vulgar Latin *languire, from Latin languēre. First known use: 14th century.