Definition of emasculatenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb emasculate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of emasculate are enervate, unman, and unnerve. While all these words mean "to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action," emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

When is it sensible to use enervate instead of emasculate?

While the synonyms enervate and emasculate are close in meaning, enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort.

a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

When is unman a more appropriate choice than emasculate?

Although the words unman and emasculate have much in common, unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

In what contexts can unnerve take the place of emasculate?

The meanings of unnerve and emasculate largely overlap; however, unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.

unnerved by the near collision

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of emasculate In the political sphere—an arena that’s increasingly entangled with social media—figures such as Elon Musk decry empathy as an emasculating plague. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026 Jordan continues yapping about being emasculated and being less of a man for staying with his wife. Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025 And yet precisely this dynamic ensures that commitment between men, the kind of domesticity that David and Giovanni attempt to establish in Giovanni’s room, can only ever be emasculating. Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 By emasculating standards for performance, equity grading has both encouraged and hidden academic dysfunction. Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for emasculate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emasculate
Verb
  • In fact, too much choice often paralyzes decision-making.
    David Meade, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
  • Public toilets stopped working, paralyzed without bank payments by mobile internet.
    Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Noblet admitted she was intimidated directing Clooney for the first time.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 17 May 2026
  • In my opinion, his words were aimed at intimidating female athletes into compliance.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • But the future Hall of Famer is coming off ACL surgery, might lack mobility, and has a receiving corps that frightens nobody.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
  • This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.
    Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Myers nails the realistic teen who is a far cry from the unflappable Nancy Drew, screwing up plenty and often terrified of what she's gotten herself into.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
  • Vilnius resident Maryia Malevich said she was terrified when the alert sounded.
    ABC News, ABC News, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • That same year, Wait Until Dark scared me to death when bad guys terrorized a blind Audrey Hepburn.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 May 2026
  • Jittery housemaid Miss Lamb (Thomasin McKenzie) proves less trouble to manage, as Fred scares the wits out of her with bogus talk of a ghoul wandering the Moors.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Emasculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emasculate. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on emasculate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster