manliness

noun

man·​li·​ness ˈman-lē-nəs 

: the quality or state of being manly (as by having qualities such as strength or virility that are traditionally associated with a man)

They'd been trained to identify emotional repression as the essence of manliness. Men who broke down, or cried, or admitted to feeling fear, were sissies, weaklings, failures. Not men.

—Pat Barker

… the angular manliness of her gestures …

—John Colapinto

Synonyms

• machismo
• macho
• manhood
• masculinity
• virility

Examples of manliness in a Sentence

studio executives wondered if the actor possessed the manliness expected in an action hero

Recent Examples on the Web

Ruiz presidential campaign The road to parity Mexico is known internationally for its machismo, a cultural emphasis put on stereotypical manliness and control. —Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 May 2024

In 2006, Mansfield published a striking book, on an age-old subject: manliness. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 3 Oct. 2022

The version of manliness the ‘93 team beamed into every young mind in the tri-state area involved grapefruit-sized hunks of tobacco, chewed and spat. —Megan Angelo, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2023

The story of manliness at Claremont might be said to begin with Harvey C. Mansfield Jr., the author of the 2006 book Manliness. —Katherine Stewart, The New Republic, 10 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English manlynesse, from manli, manly manly entry 2 + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above