Introduction / Context:
“Languish” often describes remaining in an unpleasant or neglected state for a long time, experiencing deterioration or suffering due to inaction or delay. In legal and carceral contexts, it conveys being stuck in jail for years without relief.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Target verb (present participle): languishing.
- Context: prolonged imprisonment.
- We need the closest single-word synonym from the list.
Concept / Approach:
The best paraphrase is “suffering” or “languishing away,” implying hardship and decline. “Enduring” can be close but is more neutral (to bear patiently). “Convicted” refers to being found guilty, not the ongoing condition. “Attempting” and “avoiding” are unrelated actions and do not capture prolonged hardship.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Define languish: remain in a state of neglect or hardship; weaken.2) Map to the incarceration context: years in jail without relief.3) Select “suffering” as the closest one-word synonym.4) Reject legal-status or unrelated action words (convicted, attempting, avoiding).5) Note “enduring” as plausible but less precise than “suffering.”
Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute: “has been suffering in the jail …” preserves the hardship nuance and duration implied by the continuous aspect.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
convicted: A past legal verdict, not ongoing decline.attempting: Irrelevant action.avoiding: Opposite direction; suggests escape, not confinement.enduring: Tolerating; lacks the weakening/withering sense.
Common Pitfalls:
Underestimating the negative force of “languish.” It is not merely “stay”; it signals deterioration and suffering over time.
Final Answer:
suffering
Discussion & Comments