virile
adjective
ˈvir-ˌī(-ə)l, British also ˈvī(-ə)r-ˌī(-ə)l
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Definition of virile
1a : 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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for virile
Synonyms
male, man-size (or man-sized), manlike, manly, mannish, masculine
Antonyms
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Examples of virile in a Sentence
Recent Examples on 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. 2018These 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.
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More Definitions for virile
virile
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of virile
: having or suggesting qualities (such as strength and sexual energy) that are associated with men and that are usually considered attractive in men
See the full definition for virile in the English Language Learners Dictionary
virile
adjective
ˈvir-ˌīl\
Kids Definition of virile
: having qualities generally associated with men
virile
adjectiveMedical Definition of virile
1 : having the nature, properties, or qualities of an adult male specifically : capable of functioning as a male in copulation
2 : characteristic of or associated with men : masculine
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