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Languish vs Failing - What's the difference?

languish | failing |

As verbs the difference between languish and failing

is that languish is to lose strength and become weak; to be in a state of weakness or sickness while failing is present participle of lang=en.

As a noun failing is

weakness; defect.

As a preposition failing is

if the preferred or prior option is not possible.

languish

English

Verb

(es)
  • To lose strength and become weak; to be in a state of weakness or sickness.
  • * Bible, 2 Esdras viii. 31
    • We do languish of such diseases.
  • To pine away in longing for something; to have low spirits, especially from lovesickness.
    • He languished without his girlfriend
  • To live in miserable or disheartening conditions.
    • He languished in prison for years
  • To be neglected; to make little progress, be unsuccessful.
    • The case languished for years before coming to trial.
  • (obsolete) To make weak; to weaken, devastate.
  • * 1815 , Jane Austen, Emma
    • He is an excellent young man, and will suit Harriet exactly: it will be an "exactly so," as he says himself; but he does sigh and languish , and study for compliments rather more than I could endure as a principal.
    (Tennyson)

    Related terms

    * languid * languor * languorous

    failing

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • weakness; defect
    • His worst failing is his temper.

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • if the preferred or prior option is not possible
    • A large proportion of the females employed in other firms are said to have signified their intention of going on strike, failing a settlement.