EFFETE Synonyms: 201 Similar and Opposite Words

effete

adjective

i-ˈfēt

Definition of effete

as in degenerate

having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit the soft, effete society that marked the final years of the Roman empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in weak

lacking bodily strength the outdoor adventure program takes effete youths and turns them into hardy campers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in weakened

lacking strength of will or character the governor is too effete to take on the powerful special interests that really run this state

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in feminine

of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities traditionally considered more suitable for women wore a slightly more effete style of clothing in those days

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of effete And there’s an intriguing romance between Nancy and Hamish (James Musgrave), a slightly effete soldier whose lack of commitment, and indeed libido, suggests her taste in men might not be as sharp as her wit. — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 17 June 2025 In this view, other European immigrants were unsuitable for civilizing the frontier—Southern Europeans were effete and decadent while Eastern European Jews were hapless in the woods and better-suited to urban, commercial spaces. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 June 2025 Jesus Christ’s preaching of love and kindness and forgiveness is seen as weak and effete. — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2025 This is bad enough, but then there’s the wide gulf of sensibility that separates Rock and Martin; the latter’s effete irony just doesn’t gel with Rock’s political trenchancy. — Bill Wyman, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for effete

Recent Examples of Synonyms for effete

Adjective

When the discs degenerate, vertebrae lose the spongy buffer between bones, resulting in pain.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Or when some man behaving like a degenerate gambler plods into Chelsea Gray’s DMs with a disgusting slur.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of degenerate

Adjective

Ferries are a common method of travel and accidents occur regularly, in part due to weak enforcement of safety standards.

— IMAN SATRIA, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
This time a year ago, a weak La Niña — El Niño’s cool counterpart — was in place, and only a handful of other years have had such a rapid flip to a potent El Niño, including the strongest ever event from 1982 to 1983.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of weak

Adjective

Most often, those who do seek medical attention are people who are more susceptible to foodborne illnesses, such as children, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems.

— Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Most people recover within several days, but infections can become serious for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of weakened

Adjective

So that the bars weren’t their own competition, Wild Child was designed with a more feminine aesthetic and initially leaned into a concept focused on wine, low-alcohol cocktails and mocktails.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
Her debut as women’s creative director coincided with the Armani Privé couture show in January, in the sign of continuity, while evolving the late designer’s style with her own feminine touch.

— WWD Staff, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of feminine

Adjective

Of course, there’s always room service which is not just delightfully decadent, but sometimes the necessary call after a long day of fun.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Ewa Mroczkowska’s production design also turns dewy embankments, decadent interiors, and sunrises over cemeteries into visions of storybook-like decay.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of decadent

Adjective

Kenneth Branagh originated the somewhat aloof professor, who steps into the role after Professor Quirrell was revealed to be hosting the feeble Lord Voldemort on the back of his bald head.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Instead of using a mirror to gather starlight, MOTHRA has many telephoto lenses, like those on a camera, which can capture faintly glowing wisps of gas and other feeble emanations across a wider field of view.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of feeble

Adjective

The infected children reported a range of skin and soft tissue symptoms, including spots, pustules, blisters, and abscesses.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
That belief — that culture is simultaneously an economic force, a source of soft power and something that requires active protection — became the thesis for the gathering, the first of this scale in a century.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of soft

Adjective

The term kothi applies to a broad category of people assigned male at birth who are effeminate to varying degrees and might engage in same-sex relationships, but do not live in separate communities.

— Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
One of the earliest of American masculinity influencers was President Theodore Roosevelt, who touted his own transformation from a timid, effeminate man – local presses mocked him in his early career – to a rugged outdoorsman.

— Miriam Eve Mora, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026

Definition of effeminate

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“Effete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effete. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of effete

adjective

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