languish
Waste away neglected
Languish means to lose vitality or grow weak, typically from neglect or unfavorable conditions.
A prisoner languishes in a cell; a proposal languishes in committee; a plant languishes without water.
The word suggests prolonged suffering or decline rather than sudden collapse: The project languished for years before finally being revived.
Someone can also languish for something they desire, pining with unfulfilled longing.
No longer recalled
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- ignoredPurposely not noticed
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- neglectedNot given proper attention
disregarded · unattended · sidelined · unnoticed · mothballed · shelved · dormant · idle
Held in custody
- captiveOne held by force
- incarceratedConfined in prison
- detainedHeld against one's will
- trappedUnable to escape
confined · jailed · locked away · festering · rotting · wasting · suffering · pining
State without hope
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- dejectionState of lowness
sorrow · desolation · woe · despondency · grief · gloom · forlorn · morose
deteriorate
Grow worse over time
diminish · dwindle · ebb · decay · wither · atrophy · degenerate · worsen · sink · slump
forgotten
No longer recalled
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- ignoredPurposely not noticed
- abandonedLeft behind completely
neglected · disregarded · unattended · sidelined · unnoticed · mothballed · shelved · dormant · idle · gathering dust
imprisoned
Held in custody
- captiveOne held by force
- incarceratedConfined in prison
- detainedHeld against one's will
trapped · confined · jailed · locked away · festering · rotting · wasting · suffering · pining · interned
hopelessness
State without hope
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- anguishIntense mental suffering
dejection · sorrow · desolation · woe · despondency · grief · gloom · forlorn · morose · disconsolate
pining
Aching with prolonged desire
wistful · nostalgic · lovesick · heartsick · mooning · sighing · desiring · hungering · thirsting · yearning
languid, languishing, languidly, languished, languishes, languidness