as in male
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men
men were once expected to be interested only in such virile activities as hunting
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Recent Examples of virile
After a faculty party one night, Martha invites the college’s virile new biology professor, Nick, and his vapid wife, Honey, over for a wee-hours drink.
—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Through the 2010s Vijay gradually refined his socially conscious roles with a macho, virile energy that accelerated his superstardom.
—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of frat boys came out to watch a head-to-head match between the effluvia of USC’s and UCLA’s most virile students, moving through a plastic maze.
—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
America is strong, America is virile.
—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for virile
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Through the 2010s Vijay gradually refined his socially conscious roles with a macho, virile energy that accelerated his superstardom.
—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of frat boys came out to watch a head-to-head match between the effluvia of USC’s and UCLA’s most virile students, moving through a plastic maze.
—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
America is strong, America is virile.
—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for virile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virile
Adjective
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The three remaining male juveniles were arrested in Los Angeles.
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Tom was always supposed to be the kind of male equivalent of Mary.
Adjective
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There is something stereotypically masculine about the kind of chest-pumping, overly stylish translations of your predecessors.
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In reality, Lewis says, men have a deep, wide range of feeling that encompasses both traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine aspects.
Cite this Entry
“Virile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virile. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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