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 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 Not to mention that the movie’s languorous, muted-velvet color palette is a plushy pleasure unto itself. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 24 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for languorous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for languorous
Adjective
  • No 1 Jordan), who made his debut for the under-21s in April as a 17-year-old, and Harrison Armstrong, a languid, skilful midfielder who started for the club’s second-string in February a month after turning 17.
    Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 11 July 2024
  • Hotelier Oscar Cubillo Blasco and his partner, Gigi de Vidal, left careers in Madrid for 250-year-old town house in the former Lanzarote capital of Teguise (also home to the lovely nine-room Palacio Ico boutique and now the charming center of the languid island).
    Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • By the time the prosecution presented another version of the Vasquez video, broken into fourteen hundred and sixty-five frames, on PowerPoint slides, which show Penny and Neely’s struggle even more clearly, the jurors had begun to resemble listless schoolchildren.
    Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Looking listless from the opening, the Sharks allowed five goals in the first period and never recovered in an unsightly 8-1 loss to the Lightning at Amalie Arena.
    Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Ryan Williams was lackadaisical, and Milroe threw it right in the view of the defense.
    Kennington Smith III, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
  • There seemed to be a lackadaisical effort, which allowed for the Oklahoma defender to catch the pass unaffected.
    Kennington Smith III, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The same tired thoughts, predictable excuses, and familiar limiting beliefs play on repeat in your mind, keeping you stuck in patterns that don't serve your growth.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Somehow, some way, fans aren’t tired of him despite the fact his flow and production choices haven’t changed much.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Dec. 2024
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
  • Coming into the new year exhausted and disengaged won’t set the stage for career success.
    Elizabeth Pearson, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Isolated and exhausted, the mother is frustrated, and miserable.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The trio is tasked with completing magical tasks in order to earn a place back in their sleepy Massachusetts town.
    Annabel Gutterman, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
  • And that has a lot to do with nourishing your soul and staying in a place of curiosity and not sleepy.
    Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Four days later, Dibble’s daughter found her limp, blue in the face, not breathing.
    J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Balloons for Diary of a Wimpy Kid's Greg Heffley and Toys R Us mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe were spotted looking slightly limp, while Snoopy and One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy had noticeably droopy hats.
    Kate Hogan, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near languorous

Cite this Entry

“Languorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/languorous. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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