Meaning & use
languishing
Last updated
losing strength or vitality gradually, or remaining in an unpleasant or neglected situation for a long time.
See it in a sentence
The bill has been languishing in committee for over a year without a vote.
Many people reported languishing rather than thriving during the long months of isolation.
A note on using this word
Languishing became widely used during the pandemic to describe a flat, low-energy emotional state between depression and wellbeing.
Words with a similar meaning
stagnatingwasting away
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
flourishingthriving
Make it your own
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