emasculate

verb

emas·​cu·​late i-ˈma-skyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
emasculated; emasculating
Synonyms of emasculatenext

transitive verb

1
: to deprive of strength, vigor, or spirit : weaken
2
: to deprive of virility or procreative power : castrate
3
: to remove the androecium of (a flower) in the process of artificial cross-pollination
emasculate
i-ˈma-skyə-lət How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
adjective
emasculation
i-ˌma-skyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
noun
emasculator
i-ˈma-skyə-ˌlā-tər How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of emasculate

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unnerve, enervate, unman, emasculate mean to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action.

unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.

unnerved by the near collision

enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort.

a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Examples of emasculate in a Sentence

He plays the role of a meek husband who has been emasculated by his domineering wife. Critics charged that this change would emasculate the law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jordan continues yapping about being emasculated and being less of a man for staying with his wife. — Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025 In the political sphere—an arena that’s increasingly entangled with social media—figures such as Elon Musk decry empathy as an emasculating plague. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026 Under Republican control, the House of Representatives has been emasculated. — Linh Tat, Oc Register, 5 May 2026 And yet precisely this dynamic ensures that commitment between men, the kind of domesticity that David and Giovanni attempt to establish in Giovanni’s room, can only ever be emasculating. — Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for emasculate

Word History

Etymology

Latin emasculatus, past participle of emasculare, from e- + masculus male — more at male

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of emasculate was in 1607

Browse Nearby Words

Emarginula
emasculate
emasculated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Emasculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emasculate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

emasculate

verb
emas·​cu·​late i-ˈmas-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
emasculated; emasculating
1
: to deprive of masculine strength or spirit : weaken
2
: castrate
emasculation
-ˌmas-kyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
noun
emasculator
-ˈmas-kyə-ˌlāt-ər How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

emasculate

transitive verb
emas·​cu·​late i-ˈmas-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
emasculated; emasculating
: to deprive of virility or procreative power : castrate
emasculation
-ˌmas-kyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

emasculate

transitive verb
emas·​cu·​late i-ˈmas-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce emasculate (audio)
emasculated; emasculating
: to deprive (as a law or judicial opinion) of force or effectiveness

More from Merriam-Webster on emasculate

Nglish: Translation of emasculate for Spanish Speakers

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