male 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmāl How to pronounce male (audio)
Definition of malenext
as in masculine
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men the radio program offers both male and female perspectives on many common relationship issues

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

male

2 of 2

noun

as in guy
an adult male human being research shows that more males than females are responding positively to the new ad campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 male
Adjective
For decades, Holt’s contribution was overshadowed by her male contemporaries. — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026 Two male individuals were taken into police custody as part of the investigation, but both were subsequently released. — ABC News, 3 July 2026
Noun
The adult male motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, the release said. — Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026 One person, described only as a male, was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to fire officials. — Jasmine Mendez follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for male
Recent Examples of Synonyms for male
  1. masculine
  2. guy
  3. gentleman
  4. man
  5. dude
Adjective
  • Willis was the lead singer, and when all the performers took on stereotypically masculine personas, he became known for playing the cop.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Upon opening the package, the fragrances don't announce themselves with the hyper-masculine aggression of a locker-room body spray.
    — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of masculine
Noun
  • Kahan headlines Rolling Stone’s inaugural Stateside Festival on July 4, just ahead of his return to Fenway on July 18 and 19, where 70,000 people will get to see a guy with his guitar absolutely captivate.
    — Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026
  • Then, oh yeah, defenses can’t focus too much on those guys because of how much attention Joel Embiid commands.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of guy
Noun
  • For most of the 20th century, a gentleman’s agreement held that no building in Philadelphia rose higher than the brim of William Penn’s hat — the 37-foot bronze likeness of the city’s founder that stands atop City Hall.
    — Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Waving and smiling, Aveiro, accompanied by a burly gentleman, takes a seat at a table bedecked with a bouquet of roses, ready to tuck into some cuisine from her native country.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of gentleman
Noun
  • In May, a former federal agent was arrested and charged with multiple counts of assault and falsely reporting a crime after making false statements under oath regarding the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis in January.
    — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Cohen argued that women leave STEM fields at disproportionately higher rates than men and that the issue isn’t simply a pipeline problem.
    — Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of man
Noun
  • Mariana is not pleased to hear this, and he's got some rough-looking dudes with him.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Even big dudes who've won Super Bowls can't help being little brothers.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of dude

Browse Nearby Words

malcontents
male
maledict
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Male.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/male. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on male

Nglish: Translation of male for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about male

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