1
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
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2
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
3
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
4
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
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Recent Examples of effete
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
The Portnoy in the pizza videos often has a preening, fussy, almost effete quality that complicates his butch self-image.
—Willy Staley, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effete
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
The Portnoy in the pizza videos often has a preening, fussy, almost effete quality that complicates his butch self-image.
—Willy Staley, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effete
Adjective
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Now playback all the degenerate, violent entertainment Julianne has happily participated in throughout her career.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
If dopamine neurons in the basal ganglia degenerate as happens in Parkinson’s disease, movements become harder to initiate and slower once they are commenced.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Typically, this imaging uses sensors that can pick up femtotesla or picatesla range of magnetic fields, weaker than even refrigerator magnets.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
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In some cases, value starts to soften not because the business is weak, but because the growth story is not fully proven.—
David Chapman,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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However, some with weakened immune systems or certain conditions may have their immunity wane over time.—
Youri Benadjaoud,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
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Salmonella is a group of bacteria that, when consumed in food or water, can cause serious and fatal infections in children, elderly people and individuals with weakened immune systems, according to the Cleveland Clinic.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Not into destruction, but into creation and feminine force.—
JD Linville,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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It's meant to be wholly feminine and romantic, reminiscent of bygone times.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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With its iconic buildings, excellent shopping, and decadent dining, there’s no shortage of things to do in the city that never sleeps.—
Jamie Spain,
Condé Nast Traveler,
13 May 2026
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Whit’s Frozen Custard is known for its flavor of the day calendar, with rich custards running the decadent range from fluffer nutter cookie, carrot cake, and mint cookies ‘n cream to Biscoff cookie butter and banana nut bread.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
So, in retrospect, [the entire Lightning project] looked pretty feeble.—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
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His visit also comes as the committee stalls on advancing Casey Means, Kennedy’s nominee for surgeon general, over her lack of medical practice experience and feeble answers on the importance of vaccination.—
Daniel Payne,
STAT,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The rooms Rooms are decorated in a cool, muted Pacific Northwest palette—soft shades, brass accents, and heavy drapes that cut the light just right.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
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On Flight 12, however, the company planed to return Super Heavy a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico rather than risk a recovery mishap that could damage the pad on the first flight of brand-new hardware.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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Throughout the 1900s, and even into the ‘80s and ’90s, women often were encouraged to be more effeminate, and male counterparts were told to embrace their masculinity.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Effete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effete. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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