emasculative
Adjective: "Emasculative" describes something that has the effect of weakening, making less effective, or depriving of strength, power, or vitality. It is derived from the verb "emasculate," which literally means to castrate, but in figurative use, it refers to actions, policies, or influences that reduce forcefulness or masculinity.
- (The rules weakened the authority of the organization.)
- (His criticism undercut the team's spirit and effectiveness.)
- (The provisions made the country militarily weaker.)
"Emasculative effect": a result that reduces power or vigor.
- The constant budget cuts had an emasculative effect on the research department. (The cuts made the department less capable.)
"Emasculative policy": a rule or plan that deliberately weakens an institution or group.
- Critics accused the government of implementing emasculative policies to silence dissent. (Policies designed to reduce opposition.)
Emasculate (verb): to castrate; to deprive of strength or effectiveness.
- The dictator tried to emasculate the judiciary by removing independent judges. (To weaken the judicial system.)
Emasculation (noun): the act or process of weakening or depriving of power.
- The emasculation of the parliament led to widespread protests. (The weakening of legislative authority.)
Emasculatory (adjective): a synonym of "emasculative," meaning tending to emasculate.
- The emasculatory tone of the speech undermined the leader's credibility. (A tone that weakens trust.)
- Weakening: causing a loss of strength or effectiveness.
- Enervating: causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality.
- Debilitating: making someone or something weak or infirm.
- Castrating (figurative): depriving of power or force.
"To cut the legs out from under (someone)": to undermine or weaken someone's position.
- The sudden resignation of his allies cut the legs out from under the president, an emasculative move. (It weakened his authority.)
"To pull the teeth of (something)": to render something harmless or ineffective.
- The amendment pulled the teeth of the original law, an emasculative revision. (It removed its enforcement power.)