effeminate

/i'feminit/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
effeminate

A man with an effeminate manner gestures gracefully while speaking.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Having unsuitable feminine qualities: Describes a man or boy whose appearance, mannerisms, or behavior are considered more typical of or suitable for women or girls, often with a negative connotation of weakness or lack of masculinity.
Usage
  • The word is used as an adjective to describe a person (typically male). It is often considered outdated and pejorative, as it reinforces rigid gender stereotypes. Modern usage prefers more neutral or specific descriptions.
  • Example:
Examples
  • Adjective:
    • The villain in the story was portrayed as a sneering, effeminate man.
    • She rejected the notion that caring for one's appearance made a man effeminate.
Advanced Usage
  • Sociolinguistic Note: The term is frequently criticized for its sexist implications, as it judges male behavior against a narrow standard of masculinity and often demeans qualities associated with femininity. In contemporary discourse, its use is generally discouraged.
  • Historical/Literary Context: The word may appear in historical texts or literary analysis to describe characters or societal attitudes of a past era.
    • The dandy's effeminate style was a deliberate rejection of the period's masculine norms.
Variants and Related Words
  • Effeminacy (noun): The quality or state of being effeminate.
    • He was ridiculed for his perceived effeminacy.
Synonyms
  • Womanish (adj., often pejorative): Resembling or characteristic of a woman, especially when applied to a man.
  • Unmanly (adj., pejorative): Not possessing qualities traditionally associated with men, such as strength or courage.
  • Foppish (adj.): Concerned with one's clothes and appearance in an affected and excessive way (can overlap with 'effeminate' in describing mannerisms).
Antonyms
  • Masculine (adj.): Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men.
  • Virile (adj.): Having strength, energy, and a robust masculine spirit.
Related Idioms/Phrases
  • "To be accused of effeminacy": To be charged with lacking manly qualities. This phrase highlights the accusatory and judgmental nature of the term.
    • In that rigid society, any interest in the arts could lead to a man being accused of effeminacy.
effeminate

A man with an effeminate manner gestures gracefully while speaking.

Adjective
  1. having unsuitable feminine qualities

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ tương tự

Từ chứa "effeminate"

Từ có nhắc đến "effeminate"