languishing

[ lang-gwi-shing ]

adjective

1. becoming languid, in any way.
2. expressive of languor; indicating tender, sentimental melancholy:

   a languishing sigh.

3. lingering:

   a languishing death.

Other Words From

• languish·ing·ly adverb
• half-languish·ing adjective
• un·languish·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of languishing¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; languish, -ing ²

Example Sentences

“You have to wonder what signal this sends when the Bahraini authorities are unjustly prosecuting their critics, when human rights defenders are languishing in Bahraini jails and when the Manama authorities refuse to reinstate the citizenship of people rendered stateless on politically motivated charges,” said Allan Hogarth, Amnesty International UK’s head of government and political relations.

From BBC

Maybe it was languishing at the back of a Silver Lake dad’s closet.

From Los Angeles Times

While languishing in League One, Sheeran and many other Ipswich fans must have wondered whether they would ever see their team play in the Premier League again.

From BBC

I’m no mathematician, but in the current climate of frustrated, languishing singles and no standout tech product that’s addressing it, I’m not sure if our future equals healthier dating experiences or more long-term matches.

From Slate

When we arrived at the family home, a few days after the deluge, it was languishing in a sea of destruction.

From BBC