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effeminate

[ih-fem-uh-nit, ih-fem-uh-neyt] / ɪˈfɛm ə nɪt, ɪˈfɛm əˌneɪt /
ADJECTIVE
having female qualities
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

When I was younger, bald men were often the butt of jokes - but taking steps to regain lost hair seemed to be viewed as effeminate and vain.

From BBC Oct. 31, 2025

As a “very, very effeminate boy” growing up in Baltimore, Ben Appel was teased mercilessly.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 31, 2025

When Pesina, 32, was in grade school, they kept a low profile to avoid being bullied as a Brown, chubby gay kid with an effeminate voice.

From Washington Post Oct. 28, 2022

As the effeminate, rangy Peter, 25-year-old Kodi Smit-McPhee taps into a rich vein of mystery.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 24, 2022

But the bobcats had always scared him with their now-guttural, now-piercing and effeminate, bloodcurdling screams.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

He looms up as one of the prodigies of earth—yet sent by Providence as an avenger—an instrument of punishment on those effeminated nations, or rather dynasties, which had triumphed over human misery.

From Ancient States and Empires by John Lord

No soft luxurious diet then Had effeminated men, No other meat, nor wine had any Than the coarse mast, or simple honey, And by the parents' care laid up Cheap berries did the children sup.

From Poems of Henry Vaughan, Silurist, Volume II by E. K. (Edmund Kerchever) Chambers

Secondly, such a commonwealth must either be in peace, or war; if she be in peace, the few are soonest effeminated and corrupted and so obnoxious also to faction.

From The Commonwealth of Oceana by James Harrington

As the monarchs became effeminated, new powers sprung up, especially Media, which ultimately completed the ruin of Assyria, under Cyaxares.

From Ancient States and Empires by John Lord

We are permitted no books but such as tend to the weakening and effeminating of the mind.

From Lady Mary Wortley Montague Her Life and Letters (1689-1762) by Lewis Melville

Sensual and light, witty and delicate, descriptive and charming, these pleasing romances are never masculine, and become too often effeminate and effeminating.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 05 (From Charlemagne to Frederick Barbarossa) by Charles F. (Charles Francis) Horne

Your delicate health has always excluded you from the service; but Raoul is healthy, and it is high time to withdraw him from the effeminating effect of pampering and petting.

From Saint Michael A Romance by E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers) Werner

We are permitted no books but such as tend to the weakening or effeminating of the mind.

From Woman in Science With an Introductory Chapter on Woman's Long Struggle for Things of the Mind by John Augustine Zahm

She had made herself his dearest friend without effeminating him, his constant guide without monopolizing him, and his preceptor without ceasing to be his comrade.

From Her Royal Highness Woman by Max O'Rell




Vocabulary lists containing effeminate


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