Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective languorous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of languorous are lackadaisical, languid, listless, and spiritless. While all these words mean "lacking energy or enthusiasm," languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

When is it sensible to use lackadaisical instead of languorous?

In some situations, the words lackadaisical and languorous are roughly equivalent. However, lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

When can languid be used instead of languorous?

The synonyms languid and languorous are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 would listless be a good substitute for languorous?

While in some cases nearly identical to languorous, 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 languorous?

The meanings of spiritless and languorous largely overlap; however, spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.

a spiritless recital of the poem

Examples 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 languorous The nocturnal characters spend languorous nights in bars, opera houses, brothels. Judy Berman, TIME, 1 July 2024 But on its own, Season 3 was like a long, languorous meal served over the course of several hours. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 30 June 2024 Five Centimeters per Second, as its narrators tell us, is the speed at which cherry blossom petals drift down to the earth from trees — the idea being that like first loves, their descent can be beautiful, languorous, and highly unpredictable. Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2024 Turgenev would spend the rest of his life either in close proximity to Pauline or wishing for it, following her and Louis to Paris and London, often living near them and spending long, languorous days in their company. Jerrold Seigel, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2020 See all Example Sentences for languorous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languorous
Adjective
  • Punctuated by languid guitar lines, this sadder-than-sad gem creates the perfect backdrop for her gorgeous voice to shine through.
    Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Here, long, languid meals have a habit of turning into heady (and nerdy) chats with staffers about sourcing and sustainability or special visits to the gardens or impromptu tastings in the wine cellar.
    Nicholas DeRenzo, AFAR Media, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Warriors concluded a six-game homestand with another listless effort.
    Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Both are unemployed with little opportunity in sight, pitted against each other in a constantly bickering home, and listless about it all.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Performances such as Wednesday’s, where the Bucks are locked in from the start and focused on their goals for a full 48 minutes, are what has made the team’s lackadaisical outings against teams destined for the NBA Draft lottery so disappointing this season.
    Eric Nehm, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Even the current administration has be lackadaisical in the approach.
    Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • People are tired of prescribed approaches to their work.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
  • In Germany in the early 1930s, many people were tired of violence, uncertainty, and a failing economy and hoped that a strong leader would heed their concerns and come up with new and effective solutions to bring better and calmer days.
    Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Dance sections lacked charm; lyric passages were spiritless; the klezmer episodes in the third movement were strictly goyish.
    Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Yet the club dropped the contest in spiritless fashion, 6-2.
    Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
Adjective
  • Trujillo said the crews were exhausted but proud of their work.
    Fox News, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The animals are nervous, exhausted, aggressive and bewildered by this alarming change to their routine.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • January is typically the sleepiest month on the MLB calendar, and the New York Yankees likely won’t disturb slumber much.
    Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • When the sun goes down, the South Shore of Lake Tahoe is not a sleepy town.
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • At the liquidator’s shop, Jagriti had watched her mother’s hands go limp in her lap.
    Kanak Kapur, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2025
  • Ash falls as rescuers search for survivors trapped in the wreckage carrying small children, some limp, some struggling, some dead.
    Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near languorous

Cite this Entry

“Languorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languorous. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on languorous

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