languorous

languorous — adjective

1. showing or feeling a gentle lack of energy, moving and speaking in a slow, relax

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

showing or feeling a gentle lack of energy, moving and speaking in a slow, relaxed way that feels calm and pleasant rather than uncomfortable.

Example

After the long Sunday lunch, Esteban felt languorous and lay back on the wide sofa.

feel + languorous (predicative use)

The warm afternoon sun made the fishing village feel languorous and still.

languorous + noun describing atmosphere (still village)

Common collocations
  • languorous afternoon
  • languorous mood
  • languorous sigh
  • languorous heat
  • languorous pace
  • languorous summer
Synonyms
  • dreamy

    focuses on being lost in thought rather than physical slowness

  • drowsy

    more about feeling sleepy or half-asleep, less about pleasant relaxation

  • languid

    very similar, but can imply weakness or illness; 'languorous' is more about pleasant comfort

  • lethargic

    negative or medical — suggests unwanted sluggishness, not pleasant relaxation

Antonyms
  • energetic

    full of active energy, the direct opposite

  • vigorous

    strong, healthy, and full of force

  • lively

    full of quick, cheerful movement

Grammar Patterns

languorous + noun

be / feel / look + languorous

Usage Note

Unlike similar words such as 'lazy' or 'listless', 'languorous' carries a positive or neutral connotation — the lack of energy feels comfortable, dreamy, or pleasant rather than negative. It appears most often in descriptive or literary writing rather than everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

The manager was angry that her team felt languorous and unproductive.
The manager was angry that her team felt lazy and unproductive.
'languorous' describes a pleasant, dreamy slowness; use 'lazy' for criticism about unwillingness to work.

Word family

  • languor
    nounC1
  • languid
    adjectiveC1
  • languidly
    adverbC2
  • languish
    verbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe low energy, but they differ in connotation and context. 'Languorous' is the most positive — it suggests a pleasant, dreamy slowness that feels comfortable, as in a hot afternoon nap. 'Languid' is close but can hint at weakness or illness (a languid wave from a sickbed), while 'languorous' rarely does. 'Lethargic' is neutral or medical, describing unwanted sluggishness (feeling lethargic after a bad night's sleep). 'Dreamy' focuses on the mind being lost in pleasant thoughts rather than physical slowness. 'Listless' is the most negative — it suggests a lack of interest or motivation that feels uneasy or bored, not pleasant. For describing a lovely, slow summer afternoon, 'languorous' is the best choice.

languidlethargicdreamylistless

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • languorous summer afternoon
  • languorous sigh of contentment

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Old French 'languoreus', which came from Latin 'languor' meaning 'faintness, weariness, or listlessness'. The Latin root 'languere' means 'to be faint or weak'. The word entered English in the 1300s and originally meant 'full of or causing sorrow', but over time shifted to its modern sense of pleasant, relaxed slowness.