Definition of languidnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective languid differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of languid are lackadaisical, languorous, listless, and spiritless. While all these words mean "lacking energy or enthusiasm," languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness.

was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery

When could lackadaisical be used to replace languid?

The synonyms lackadaisical and languid are sometimes interchangeable, but lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

When is it sensible to use languorous instead of languid?

While the synonyms languorous and languid are close in meaning, languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

When is listless a more appropriate choice than languid?

The words listless and languid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, listless suggests a lack of interest caused by physical weakness or dissatisfied boredom.

listless hospital patients
listless children flipping through picture books on a rainy day

In what contexts can spiritless take the place of languid?

Although the words spiritless and languid have much in common, spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.

a spiritless recital of the poem

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of languid There are plenty of people who have never listened to country radio who are finding it through pop radio or social media or word of mouth or even through Drake’s languid remake featuring Don Toliver (though Langley’s cameo is now out of the video). — Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026 These are primal thrills most viewers can get behind, and having to slow down to explain the morality behind them makes for languid viewing. — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026 To me, the two nude figures in languid declination seemed, saliently, to be melting in the heat of a summer day, but their triton-wielding and breast-cupping poses must certainly have also invited debate centuries before. — Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026 First-act setups extend through the majority of the 108-minute runtime, constituting a plotless meander without the aesthetic allure to justify such a languid journey. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for languid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languid
Adjective
  • But my favorite meals of each day were the long languorous breakfasts in the Salone Reale, among the grandest rooms in the hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • She should still be blamed for giving in to the allure of billboards ten feet tall with languorous models.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Studies have shown that countries with stronger IP systems tend to be more innovative, while weaker IP systems may stifle innovation.
    — Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Are scientists hindered by a weak grasp of the physics driving GRBs?
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • But in order to make the most of the experiment, scientists ensured a second spacecraft would follow DART at a more leisurely pace.
    — Meghan Bartels, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • If a leisurely day by the pool is on the agenda, order chips and guac or sip a Valley Margarita from the comfort of your chaise lounge.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The Chargers, meantime, opened with three losses for the first time since 2017, and feature a listless, sputtering offense that lacks finish under first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • In her final years, disappointed visitors reportedly threw sand into her cage to try to make the listless bird move, as author Joel Greenberg recounted to National Geographic.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Then, Washington tight end Decker DeGraaf caught a pass and took off down the sideline, the former Glendora High standout running through two feeble-arm tackles on the way to an inexplicable 42-yard touchdown.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Briogeo Destined for Density Serum The Briogeo Destined for Density Serum is a lightweight liquid formula that thickens feeble strands, plumps roots, and rapidly spurs new hair growth.
    — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 17 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • On winding roads, its model-specific suspension tuning and focus on weight reduction translate into exceptional body control at speed without becoming brittle or overly rigid in slower, more technical sections.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In particular, he was asked about Netflix’s slower growth (2% year-over-year growth in user engagement during the first half in 2026).
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Getting camera-ready Crawford never tired of redecorating her house throughout her 26 years there and had a long collaborative relationship with decorator William Haines.
    — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
  • As such, the group designed this high-tech salve to revive tired skin on a cellular level, but also with a little mood boost.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Special protection Vaccination is especially important for those 65 years and older, young children, pregnant people, people with chronic medical conditions and those with weakened immune systems.
    — Annette Regan, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Leadership turmoil and a weakened state, as seen with the enfeebled late Ming, could well fuse with latent social tensions to produce an existential crisis.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Languid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languid. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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