John Galsworthy
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What Is the Difference Between languid and languorous?
Lack, lack, lack. Languid is all about lack. Depending on its context, the word can suggest a lack of strength, lack of energy, or lack of activity. The lack-of-strength sense of languid describes the kind of sluggishness that often results from fatigue or weakness, as in “the illness left her feeling languid.” The lack-of-energy sense is synonymous with listless, and often describes someone’s character or disposition as a result of dissatisfaction or sadness. Lastly, there’s the lack-of-activity sense of languid, as in “investors are worried about the languid stock market.” So languid is a total bummer, right? Not so (ahem) fast! Sometimes it’s a good thing to dillydally, and languid has also long been used to describe stretches of time—think afternoons, days, summers, etc.—that are relatively and perhaps pleasantly chill.
Examples of languid in a Sentence
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Keep to the languid vibe alive with beaded jewelry and something crochet.
—Kerry Pieri, Vogue, 17 July 2025
But the languid tale of elderly outlaws and best friends gave me nostalgia for the days of listening to my grandparents share unbelievable tales of events that took place way before my time.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
What happened to long, languid summer days, lying next to your best friend under a maple tree, watching elephants float by in the clouds and picking up wide blades of grass to trumpet nature’s music?
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for languid
Cite this Entry
“Languid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/languid. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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