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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

“I didn’t have great hand-eye coordination. I was lanky, awkward and clumsy with effeminate mannerisms,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 20, 2023

Rashard Bradshaw, who goes by the name Cakes Da Killa, at first didn’t see a path for him in the rap industry as “an effeminate gay man.”

From Washington Post Sep. 27, 2021

“And I definitely knew I was gay, and there was definitely no talking about that. There were no ‘out’ students; there were kids who seemed effeminate.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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 Lord, John

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 Chambers, E. K. (Edmund Kerchever)

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 Lord, John

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 Harrington, James

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 Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)

No doubt a green apple and the buds of trees, and all kinds of sweet or peppery roots give him that wild and strenuous virtue which enables him to resist pampering and effeminating influences.

From Confessions of Boyhood by Albee, John

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 Werner, E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers)

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 Zahm, John Augustine

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 Melville, Lewis




Vocabulary lists containing effeminate


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