effeminize

transitive verb

ef·​fem·​i·​nize

-ed/-ing/-s

: to make effeminate

he has become effeminized, without having the virtues of being frankly feminine

—Sinclair Lewis

Word History

Etymology

effemin(ate) + -ize

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!