virile

adjective vir·ile \ ˈvir-əl , ˈvir-ˌī(-ə)l , British also ˈvī(-ə)r-ˌī(-ə)l \

|Updated on: 3 Aug 2018

Definition of virile

1 a : having traditionally masculine traits especially to a marked degree

b : characteristic of or associated with men : masculine

2 : having the nature, properties, or qualities of an adult male; specifically : capable of functioning as a male in copulation

3 : energetic, vigorous

4 : masterful, forceful

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virilely

adverb

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Examples of virile in a Sentence

men were once expected to be interested only in such virile activities as hunting

Recent Examples of virile from the Web

His Padraic is as smolderingly virile as his Poldark.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Orlando Bloom and Aidan Turner Are Drenched in Blood in London," 4 July 2018
The moment, in retrospect, came about from a virile accident.

— michael s. rosenwald, chicagotribune.com, "The Viagra jackpot: A history of the little blue pill at 20," 28 Mar. 2018
The moment, in retrospect, came about from a virile accident.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "The Viagra jackpot: A history of the little blue pill at 20," 28 Mar. 2018
Daniel Ulbricht, always sparky and engaging, keeps gaining subtlety; but Andrew Veyette, another source of virile humor, is showing a few signs of coarseness.

— alastair macaulay, New York Times, "New York City Ballet Is in Limbo, but in Bloom," 31 May 2018
In the wild, pandas are virile, with sperm counts a hundred times higher than humans.

— National Geographic, "What You Think You Know About Animals? Probably Not True," 26 May 2018
Taylor’s lively demeanor and astonishingly virile voice staved off tedium.

— bill brownlee, kansascity, "James Taylor proves there's still something in the way he moves, and sings | The Kansas City Star," 23 May 2018
Both times, the ringing, virile quality of his sound came through fairly well, though dynamic variations essentially disappeared.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Romancing the Horn: Opera Stars Record Like It’s 1900," 20 Apr. 2018
When Tristan arrives at night to meet Isolde, Mr. Kaufmann combines virile energy with dusky colorings to suggest a man caught between desire and world-weary sadness.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Review: Jonas Kaufmann Takes a Big Step Toward ‘Tristan’," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'virile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of virile

Middle French or Latin; Middle French viril, from Latin virilis, from vir man, male; akin to Old English & Old High German wer man, Sanskrit vīra

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year