manliness

noun

ˈman-lē-nəs How to pronounce manliness (audio)
Definition of manlinessnext
as in masculinity
the set of qualities traditionally considered appropriate for or characteristic of men studio executives wondered if the actor possessed the manliness expected in an action hero

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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 manliness Suck it up, and embrace the steely, Vader-esque manliness of this Ultra-Tough cooler from RTIC. — Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 10 Dec. 2025 The intoxicating pull of the manosphere – the hyper-online community led by men who tout misogynistic definitions of manliness – has given Glass a boisterous brigade of rivals. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026 The fashion for bushy beards, and beards’ association with authentic manliness, has followed this same trajectory from irony to earnestness during its various resurgences since the early 19th century. — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026 Unsubstantiated claims about the distracting nature of women, the perils of feminine qualities, and the inherent manliness of war hardly provide a solid foundation on which to construct policy. — Megan H. MacKenzie, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2012 See All Example Sentences for manliness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manliness
masculinity
Noun
  • The sessions went so well that Morali asked Willis to front the group, which adopted campy archetypes of masculinity — cop, cowboy and construction worker among them — in their stage costumes.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The juxtaposition of the apex masculinity of the professional athlete with traditionally feminine signifiers of the luxury handbag does seem to short circuit something in the wider culture.
    — Teddy Brown, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Definition of masculinity

Browse Nearby Words

manlike
manliness
manly
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Cite this Entry

“Manliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manliness. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on manliness

Nglish: Translation of manliness for Spanish Speakers

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