as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor
older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave
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Recent Examples of languished
Community radio in Europe has flourished in the mature democracies of the north and west but has languished in the younger democracies of the central and eastern nations as of 2020.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
His body languished for years inside the room-temperature building in Penrose with other corpses before their discovery.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Instead of celebrating Boston’s 18th championship, Smart languished between injuries and irrelevancy.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
For years, the case languished amid limited evidence and shifting investigative priorities.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Pennies languished between couch cushions and on closet floors, clogging vacuum cleaners and landfills.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
State contracts helped turn the prime minister’s childhood friend, once a gas retrofitter, into a billionaire, but salaries for everyday Hungarians have languished at less than half the EU average.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
So far, however, most proposals to fix these problems at the state and local level have languished.
—Alisa Kaplan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
It’s also been unevenly distributed, with some parts of the Metroplex experiencing major density and prosperity booms while other areas have languished.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
His body languished for years inside the room-temperature building in Penrose with other corpses before their discovery.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Instead of celebrating Boston’s 18th championship, Smart languished between injuries and irrelevancy.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
For years, the case languished amid limited evidence and shifting investigative priorities.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Pennies languished between couch cushions and on closet floors, clogging vacuum cleaners and landfills.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
State contracts helped turn the prime minister’s childhood friend, once a gas retrofitter, into a billionaire, but salaries for everyday Hungarians have languished at less than half the EU average.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
So far, however, most proposals to fix these problems at the state and local level have languished.
—Alisa Kaplan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
It’s also been unevenly distributed, with some parts of the Metroplex experiencing major density and prosperity booms while other areas have languished.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languished
Verb
-
With time, with therapy, with growth, this thing has faded into the past, dissolved into other narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Interest in the discussion faded later in James' career.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This has been a story of unforeseen incidents, such as the unnoticed approach of the storm and the capsizing in front of high cliffs that prevented us from swimming ashore before the cold water had weakened us.—
Jim Hoagland,
Outdoor Life,
30 Apr. 2026
-
For Caracas, the engagement offers a chance to attract foreign capital and revive industries weakened by years of mismanagement and sanctions.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than carry over the momentum from Sunday, the Sabres gradually sagged due to spotty goaltending and an anemic power play.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Broadway box office sagged a bit last week, possibly as the previous week’s Easter vacationers and spring-breakers returned home and a crowded, 40-show production slate with lots of newcomers competed with one another for attention.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maya Melendez, a ninth grader, went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and 7 RBI for the Patriots.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The fans went home happy after an apparent makeup call wiped out a Saints go-ahead field goal, and the Packers avoided a 1-3 start by escaping with a 28-27 victory.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The study said the debris could have come from a foreign ship that sank—given the lack of information from the Russian side, who could say?—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
As revenue sank, the economy collapsed amid soaring inflation.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The show focuses on how the Metropolitan Police failed to thoroughly investigate two women’s allegations, which left Worboys free to commit assaults undetected for many years.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In 2013, Hall tried (and failed) to replicate the previous magic and his show was cancelled after one season, many blaming tougher competition than before.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Languished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languished. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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