effeminize
Verb (transitive): To cause (a male) to adopt or exhibit characteristics, qualities, or appearances traditionally or stereotypically associated with femininity; to make effeminate.
The verb "effeminize" describes an action that imparts feminine traits to someone or something, typically a male person. It often carries a critical or disapproving tone, implying a loss of perceived masculine vigor or a deviation from traditional gender norms. It is used with a direct object.
- The critic argued that the luxurious court life had begun to effeminize the young king.
- Some outdated social theories wrongly suggested that certain art forms could effeminize a nation's youth.
- He feared that his son's interest in ballet would effeminize him.
- The process or result can be described as effeminization (noun).
- The novel explores the protagonist's fear of social effeminization.
- Often used in sociological, historical, or critical discourse to analyze perceived shifts in gender expression within groups.
- The article examined how propaganda portrayed the enemy as effeminized.
- Effeminise: (verb) British English spelling variant.
- Feminize: (verb) A more neutral synonym meaning to make or become feminine, often used in biological or sociological contexts without the same pejorative connotation (e.g., "Hormones can feminize certain physical features").
- Effeminate: (adjective) Describing a man or his characteristics as having qualities traditionally associated with women.
- Emasculate: (verb) To deprive of strength, vigor, or masculine force; often used interchangeably with "effeminize" but can also mean to castrate.
- Feminize
- Womanize (archaic in this sense)
- Sissify (informal, derogatory)
Important: The term "effeminize" is frequently considered pejorative and offensive, as it reinforces rigid and often harmful gender stereotypes. Its use can be seen as judgmental and discriminatory. The more neutral term feminize is often preferred in contemporary, respectful discourse when describing the attribution of feminine qualities.
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to give a (more) feminine, effeminate, or womanly quality or appearance to
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This hairdo feminizes the man
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