What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wilt
Example
The flowers in the vase wilted because they weren't watered. [wilted: past tense]
Example
After running a marathon, I felt my legs start to wilt. [wilt: verb]
Example
The team's performance began to wilt as the game went on. [wilt: verb]
languish
Example
She languished in bed for days after catching the flu. [languished: past tense]
Example
The houseplants languished in the dark corner of the room. [languished: past tense]
Example
The company began to languish after the CEO resigned. [languish: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wilt is more commonly used than languish in everyday language, especially when referring to plants or physical fatigue. Languish is less common and has a more literary or formal tone.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wilt and languish?
While wilt is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, languish is more formal and literary in nature, making it more appropriate for academic or creative writing.
