languishes

Wastes away sadly

Languishes is the third-person singular of languish, meaning to lose vitality or grow weak through neglect, confinement, 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 bill languishes while lawmakers debate other priorities.

decline

deteriorate

Grow worse over time

witherDry and decay
fadeLose intensity gradually
waneDecrease gradually

weaken · decay · diminish · atrophy · degenerate · ebb · dwindle · fail · worsen · slump

suffer

neglected

Not given proper attention

forgottenNo longer recalled
abandonedLeft behind completely
confinedKept within bounds

imprisoned · captive · trapped · wasting · pining · ailing · fading · rotting · withering · unattended

stagnate

idle

Without activity or purpose

dormantInactive but capable
festerDecay or seethe inside
stallEnclosed compartment or delay

stasis · inertia · plateau · standstill · moribund · torpid · sluggish · inactive · quiescent · static

yearn

pine

Cone-bearing evergreen

longOf great extent
achePersistent dull discomfort
craveIntensely desire something

desire · wistful · nostalgic · hanker · thirst · hunger · mourn · grieve · sigh · brood

Categories

longing verbscraves, yearns, pines, aches, wishes
erodeserodes, corrodes, abrades, wears down, wears out

Opposites

vitality and thriving

languishesflourishes

Prospers or ornamental strokes

thrives · prospers · blooms · blossoms · burgeons

activity and energy

languishesbustles

Padded skirt extenders

surges · teems · buzzes · hums · energizes

attention and priority

languisheschanges

Alterations or transitions

Family

languish, languishing, languished

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G