languishingly
languishingly — adverb
1. in a gentle, sorrowful way that expresses deep desire for someone or something t
in a gentle, sorrowful way that expresses deep desire for someone or something that is not present — for example, gazing at a photograph of a faraway lover with soft, silent sadness, or speaking in a tone that reveals a longing you cannot satisfy.
Joshua gazed languishingly at the photograph of his girlfriend, who lived three cities away.
modifies gaze/stare: looking with sad longing at someone absent
Nila sighed languishingly as she read the old love letters from her husband.
modifies sigh: expressing desire through sound
The young poet spoke languishingly of the woman he had met only once, years ago.
Piotr played the sad melody languishingly, making the audience feel the ache of lost love.
Tuan stared languishingly out the train window, thinking of the family he had left behind.
- longingly
more direct and less literary; simply 'with strong desire'
- yearningly
similar intensity, but suggests an unsatisfied ache rather than visible sorrow
- wistfully
lighter in tone, suggests a gentle, thoughtful sadness rather than romantic desire
- mournfully
implies grief or loss, whereas languishingly is about ongoing longing
- cheerfully
opposite emotional tone
- indifferently
opposite in terms of caring deeply
文法句型
modifies a verb describing how someone looks, speaks, or acts while feeling desire or sadness
用法筆記
Literary or poetic in tone. Most often modifies verbs of looking (gaze, stare), vocal expression (sigh, speak, sing), or artistic performance (play, hum). Avoid using in everyday conversation — the word sounds old-fashioned and dramatic.