Languid vs. Languish — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 24, 2024
Languid describes a state of being weak or lacking energy, often used to convey a relaxed or leisurely atmosphere, whereas languish means to suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation.
Difference Between Languid and Languish
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Languid is an adjective that describes a sluggish or listless state, typically implying a deliberate or enjoyable relaxation. It often connotes a positive, if somewhat inert, condition, such as lying languidly on a beach. On the other hand, languish is a verb that suggests suffering due to lack of attention, decay, or being confined in an undesirable situation, like languishing in obscurity or neglect.
While languid can be used to describe both physical and mental states, such as feeling languid after a long day, it usually indicates a temporary and often pleasant state of fatigue. Conversely, to languish involves a prolonged and often painful experience, like plants languishing from lack of water, pointing more to neglect or unfavorable conditions.
Languid is often associated with environments or scenarios that are tranquil and soothing, indicating an absence of stress or exertion, such as a languid afternoon. On the other hand, languish conveys a sense of stagnation and despair, as seen in expressions like languishing in jail, which emphasizes torment or distress.
While languid may also imply elegance or grace in slowness, suggesting a leisurely charm, languish lacks any positive connotations and instead highlights deterioration or suffering, such as languishing health due to chronic illness.
Although languid can occasionally have negative implications, such as a languid economy, it is generally less severe compared to languish, which always indicates a negative and undesirable state, emphasizing a dire need for change or relief, such as languishing in extreme poverty.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Verb
Connotations
Weakness, relaxation, leisurely
Suffering, neglect, undesirable situations
Usage in Sentence
Often describes atmosphere or physical state
Typically describes conditions or emotional states
Positive/Negative
Can be positive or neutral
Generally negative
Examples
"She had a languid way of speaking."
"He began to languish after weeks without rescue."
Compare with Definitions
Languid
Showing or having very little strength, energy, or activity.
The patient's languid movements indicated his recovery was still far off.
Languish
To suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation.
She languished in the tiny, cramped room for days.
Languid
Weak or faint from illness or fatigue.
Languid from the intense heat, she paused to rest.
Languish
To become weak or feeble; droop; fade.
The flowers languished in the vase, untouched and unwatered.
Languid
Slow and relaxed.
They enjoyed a languid walk through the park.
Languish
To long for something typically unattainable.
He languished for a freedom that seemed ever elusive.
Languid
Pleasantly lazy and peaceful.
The languid melody soothed her as she rested.
Languish
To undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship.
The legislation languished in the senate for months.
Languid
Lacking vigor or vitality; slack.
The economy was languid, with growth nearly at a standstill.
Languish
To live in a state of depression or decreasing vitality.
He began to languish after his retirement, missing his daily routines.
Languid
Lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort; listless
Feeling languid from a fever.
Languish
To be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor
Crops languishing from a lack of rain.
Languid
Slow-moving or weak in force
Languid breezes.
Languish
To exist or continue in miserable or disheartening conditions
Languished away in prison.
Languid
Showing little or no vitality or animation
Languid prose.
Languish
To remain unattended or be neglected
Legislation that continued to languish in committee.
Languid
Characterized by or conducive to indolence or inactivity
A languid afternoon.
Languish
To become downcast or pine away in longing
Languish apart from friends and family.
Languish for a change from dull routine.
Languid
Of a person or animal, or their body functions: flagging from weakness, or inactive or weak, especially due to illness or tiredness; faint, listless.
Languish
(intransitive) To lose strength and become weak; to be in a state of weakness or sickness.
Languid
Of a person or their movement: showing a dislike for physical effort; leisurely, unhurried.
Languish
(intransitive) To pine away in longing for something; to have low spirits, especially from lovesickness.
He languished without his girlfriend
Languid
Of a person or their actions, character, etc.: lacking drive, emotion, or enthusiasm; apathetic, listless, spiritless, unenthusiastic.
Languish
(intransitive) To live in miserable or disheartening conditions.
He languished in prison for years
Languid
Of a colour: not bright; dull, muted.
Languish
(intransitive) To be neglected; to make little progress, be unsuccessful.
The case languished for years before coming to trial.
Languid
Of an idea, writing, etc.: dull, uninteresting.
Languish
To make weak; to weaken, devastate.
Languid
Of a period of time: characterized by lack of activity; pleasant and relaxed; unstressful.
Languish
To affect a languid air, especially disingenuously.
Languid
Of a thing: lacking energy, liveliness, or strength; inactive, slow-moving, weak.
Languid breathing
Languid movements
Languish
To become languid or weak; to lose strength or animation; to be or become dull, feeble or spiritless; to pine away; to linger in a weak or deteriorating condition; to wither or fade.
We . . . do languish of such diseases.
Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife,And let me languish into life.
For the fields of Heshbon languish.
Languid
Synonym of languet
Languish
To assume an expression of weariness or tender grief, appealing for sympathy.
Languid
Drooping or flagging from exhaustion; indisposed to exertion; without animation; weak; weary; heavy; dull.
Fire their languid souls with Cato's virtue.
Languish
To be neglected and unattended to; as, the proposal languished on the director's desk for months.
Languid
Slow in progress; tardy.
Languish
To cause to droop or pine.
Languid
Promoting or indicating weakness or heaviness; as, a languid day.
Feebly she laugheth in the languid moon.
Their idleness, aimless flirtations and languid airs.
Languish
See Languishment.
What, of death, too,That rids our dogs of languish?
And the blue languish of soft Allia's eye.
Languid
Lacking spirit or liveliness;
A lackadaisical attempt
A languid mood
A languid wave of the hand
A hot languorous afternoon
Languish
Lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief;
After her husband died, she just pined away
Languish
Have a desire for something or someone who is not present;
She ached for a cigarette
I am pining for my lover
Languish
Become feeble;
The prisoner has be languishing for years in the dungeon
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to feel languid?
Feeling languid means experiencing a state of tiredness or relaxation, often in a pleasant way.
Can a situation or environment be languid?
Yes, environments can be described as languid if they promote a sense of peace and relaxation.
Can languid be used positively?
Yes, languid can have positive connotations when referring to relaxed and peaceful conditions.
What types of feelings does languish evoke?
Languish evokes feelings of sadness, neglect, and despair.
How do languid and languish differ in terms of activity?
Languid implies low energy but not necessarily unhappiness, often seen in relaxed scenarios, whereas languish involves suffering due to inactivity or oppressive situations.
What does it mean to languish in a situation?
To languish in a situation means to suffer or feel miserable due to prolonged unfavorable circumstances.
Is languish always negative?
Yes, languish is used in contexts that denote suffering, neglect, or decline, and is thus considered negative.
Can a person be described as languid?
Yes, describing someone as languid suggests they are relaxed or moving in a leisurely manner, often exuding a calm demeanor.
Can animals languish?
Yes, animals can languish, especially when they are not provided with adequate care or are in distressing conditions.
What is the primary difference in usage between languid and languish?
Languid is an adjective used to describe states or traits, whereas languish is a verb indicating the action of suffering or declining.
Can languid imply sickness?
Yes, languid can imply a mild form of sickness, particularly where there is lethargy or fatigue.
Can both terms be used in a medical context?
Yes, both can be used medically: languid to describe symptoms like lethargy, and languish to describe deteriorating conditions due to inadequate care.
Is languishing a quick or slow process?
Languishing is typically a slow process, emphasizing gradual decline or prolonged suffering.
How does the emotional tone compare between languid and languish?
Languid often carries a lighter, more neutral or positive tone, whereas languish has a heavy, distinctly negative emotional tone.
Is it appropriate to use languid to describe economic conditions?
Yes, it can describe economic conditions that are sluggish or stagnant, though typically without the acute distress implied by languish.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
