languid
Americanadjective
-
lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow.
a languid manner.
-
lacking in spirit or interest; listless; indifferent.
- Synonyms:
- spiritless
-
drooping or flagging from weakness or fatigue; faint.
- Antonyms:
- vigorous
adjective
-
without energy or spirit
-
without interest or enthusiasm
-
sluggish; inactive
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of languid
First recorded in 1590–1600, languid is from the Latin word languidus “faint”; see languish, -id 4
Explanation
Describe a slow-moving river or a weak breeze or a listless manner with the slightly poetic adjective, languid. Languid comes from the Latin verb, languere, "to be weak or faint" and is a somewhat literary word for something that doesn't use much energy. If someone says goodbye to you with a languid wave of the hand, there's not too much movement involved. You can describe yourself as languid when you have that feeling of not being entirely awake — kind of lazy in the mind.
Vocabulary lists containing languid
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
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Grade 10, List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Languid piano scales capture the hypnotic effect Tashi has on both men.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2024
Languid nights in the dormitories with the outside world stripped away, where the foundational chemistry required for a team to endure the rigors of an 18-week regular season is laid.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 26, 2022
Languid and spare, these songs are a far cry from the lo-fi noise music Callahan made early in his career, back when he performed under the moniker Smog.
From New York Times • Aug. 17, 2019
Languid and composed in possession Keane had been United's most constructive player in attack, bringing to mind at times a slightly spindly Teddy Sheringham.
From The Guardian • Apr. 10, 2011
Languid, but clinging yet to the sun world, the yellow lily dies on weedy streams.
From Minstrel Weather by Storm, Marian
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
