languished

VERB

droop; become dull, listless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deteriorate dwindle fail faint rot suffer weaken wither

STRONG

brood decline desire despond ebb fade fag flag grieve hanker hunger long pine repine sicken sigh snivel sorrow tucker waste wilt yearn

WEAK

be disregarded be neglected conk out die on vine fag out fizzle out go soft go to pieces knock out waste away

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build develop grow

STRONG

be happy delight despise dislike hate improve increase rise strengthen

WEAK

flourish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He languished with Memphis and Washington after consistently contributing to playoff runs with Boston.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

And yet, oil has languished below $100 a barrel for over three weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

The ETF then languished in correction territory — it never rose more than 10% off that Nov. 20 low — until it made a new low in early February.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

Barron’s wrote favorably on Goldman in 2023 when it traded at book value, and in 2020, when the stock languished around $200.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Soon I was spending so much time playing with Don that my other pursuits languished.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela