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

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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

After delivery, the umbilical arteries constrict and degenerate.

— Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
As her life begins overlapping with the events of the film, she’s confronted with her own degenerate desires, as the Nazis would call them.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Definition of degenerate

Adjective

But despite growing international demand for Chinese goods, domestic consumption remains a critical weak spot in the nation’s economic development.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
The stock plunged 25% for its worst day on record after issuing weak preliminary results for the second quarter.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 July 2026

Definition of weak

Adjective

Serratia marcescens can occasionally cause infections in people with weakened immune systems or those who are hospitalized.

— Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
Doctors are also more likely to order the test for those at higher risk of complications from their infection, including very young babies and children, and people with weakened immune systems.

— Alice Park, Time, 8 July 2026

Definition of weakened

Adjective

The polo top denotes a sense of put-togetherness, with any sense of stuffiness softened when styled with feminine skirts or toughened up with denim and leather.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 July 2026
While the others feel functional and sporty, this style’s slim silhouette and thin straps give them a slightly more feminine feel.

— Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 11 July 2026

Definition of feminine

Adjective

Vanilla wafer cookies provide a fun and unexpected crust that holds up decadent, creamy layers of chocolate and vanilla.

— Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
The book-length poem, set at a private party, explores the decadent lifestyles associated with the movie industry in California in the 1920s.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026

Definition of decadent

Adjective

Lei's team propose that this glitch either strengthened or reoriented, or both, the magnetic field of the Blue Eye Pulsar sufficiently to trigger radio emissions, or at least make feeble radio waves that were already there detectable.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2026
Gin up such a feeble procedural explanation for the sudden reversal that the entire sporting globe becomes incensed over the garbage-y scent of an inside job.

— Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Definition of feeble

Adjective

For decades, the Mexican government has tried building bridges, a soft-power initiative known as acercamiento — or coming together — with its rising global diaspora.

— Alfredo Corchado, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Rather than using her robust vocals, Jihyo wanted to complement Shenseea’s, opting for a softer, more soulful tone.

— Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 11 July 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 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of effete

adjective

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