effete
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ɪˈfiːt/
- Formal
:
decadente
- But he had to know a long time that dressage would be seen as an effete "sport" during an election year.
- effete liberal
Examples
-
The once vibrant village became effete, with its streets empty and shops closed.
-
Then sweet-talk the jury, insinuate the profs are effete snobs, and confuse the judge with brilliantly clever legal maneuvers.
Fiction book (2000) -
The world is effete, worn-out, afraid.
-
It's a sort of Orientalism: these awful, effete Christian emperors who couldn't accomplish anything.
Academic text (2003) -
Perhaps it was for the best, and the overlords should simply permit them to sink in their own decadence and effete concerns, their matters of importance.
Fiction book (1991) -
Politicians who successfully courted the rural electorate did so in part by charging that effete urban liberals dominated state politics.
Academic text (2011) -
Mossadegh was a nationalist, and he was in direct opposition to the Shah, who was seen as an effete Westernized puppet (and in many ways he was).
Blog text (6) -
Their credulity and superstitions, their bouts of lethargy, their outbursts of emotion (violence), their lack of hair and ardor produced an effete portrait.
Academic text (1996) -
After years of neglect, the once-strong organization felt effete and unable to influence any change.
-
His effete behavior at the meeting led others to question his commitment to the project.
Synonyms
24
5.7
Weak and showing little strength or energy
15
5.3
Being very tired and slow with little interest or energy
13
4.1
Feeling very tired and having no energy
1
7.6
Feeling very weak and having little energy
Antonyms
How Vigorous
Surface Forms
Etymology
Effete comes from the Latin word effetus, which meant 'worn out' or 'drained' and is related to the English fetus ('baby before birth'), so the root idea is about birth and being used up. So calling something effete today means it is weak, tired, or no longer effective.