effeminate

adjective

ə-ˈfe-mə-nət How to pronounce effeminate (audio)
Definition of effeminatenext
as in feminine
of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities traditionally considered more suitable for women he had a high and somewhat effeminate voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of effeminate Throughout the 1900s, and even into the ‘80s and ’90s, women often were encouraged to be more effeminate, and male counterparts were told to embrace their masculinity. — Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026 Phil initially teases Peter for being weak and effeminate. — Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 25 Sep. 2025 Here is a boy warrior, with a supple abdomen and bare bronze thighs, confident and effeminate. — Phil Melanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 June 2025 So in a move that no one had approved, Wayans put on an effeminate voice for the character in hopes Executive Producer Lorne Michaels would be angry. — Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for effeminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effeminate
  1. feminine
  2. unmanly
  3. sissy
Adjective
  • Designers like Chloé and Bottega Veneta have used the earthy color as a way to contrast sexy silhouettes or ground feminine pieces.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Hadid immediately set the tone for not only the feminine prowess that would fill the stage but the ethereal beauty, too.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of feminine
Adjective
  • The elastic insult is meant to belittle the target as inauthentic, attention-hungry, unserious, and unmanly.
    — Erik Forrest Jackson, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
  • For Marius’ friend, police chief Silviu (Alex Conovaru), such solicitude is weak and unmanly.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of unmanly
Adjective
  • The sissy bar, rear fender, license plate bracket, and seat pan are all one-off items.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sissy

Browse Nearby Words

effeminacy
effeminate
effervesce
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Effeminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effeminate. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All