effeminate
15
7.5
- adjective
- /ɪˈfɛmɪnɪt/
- Offensive
- It's seen as effeminate and that's supposed to be bad.
- an effeminate man
- an effeminate male
- effeminate stereotypes
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Watch on YouTubeIt was, it was like a like, I don't know, like a soft, nervy, effeminate boy.
- It was, it was like a like, I don't know, like a soft, nervy, effeminate boy.
- I had to be as effeminate as one could be without making light of it.
- When, for instance, it's an effeminate young man or a, or a slightly manly girl.
- And there's discussion about exactly what is meant by that generally, sort of, you know, effeminate actions on the part of a man.
- OK, so we know we've grown up in classes where there was the tomboy girl and the slightly effeminate boy.
Examples
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They can be as effeminate or masculine as they choose.
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He's wearing blue shorts and a rather effeminate peach-colored t-shirt that Farhad bought him.
Fiction book (1991) -
I had to be as effeminate as one could be without making light of it.
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Yes, I guess smoking is gonna make a man look effeminate before long.
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You must admit, he is effeminate.
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Bernie was a little effeminate.
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A tall, thin, almost effeminate man is seated on a couch.
Fiction book (1991) -
Because now I know being gay doesn't mean a guy has to be effeminate or flamboyant or sensitive.
-
Nwoye was never loved by his father, who considers him "degenerate and effeminate" (143).
Academic text (1999) -
He chose to wear effeminate clothing that emphasized his slender build.
Synonyms
4
9.9
Too delicate and refined in style, showing little physical strength
1
6.9
Not having qualities people usually expect of men or boys
Antonyms
Compounds
How Feminine
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Effeminate comes from a Latin word based on femina 'woman' and shares the same root as the English word feminine. So to call a man effeminate originally meant 'made like a woman', which is why today it describes men who show qualities people often connect with women.