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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of effete
Republicans have sought to cast him as an effete extremist.
—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
Scarf critics accuse the accessory—and by extension, its wearers—of being effete or affected.
—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
1 Dec. 2025
What we’re left with is an effete description that exists for itself and doesn’t illuminate the character.
—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Cutaways to bits involving sad-sack local cop Maccarico (Marco Bonadei) interviewing kooky characters like an effete server (Milutin Dapcevic) at Taco King and Oreste getting a dressing down from his ex-wife, Arabella’s Mother (Margareth Made), just feel like mildly amusing filler.
—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effete
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
Scarf critics accuse the accessory—and by extension, its wearers—of being effete or affected.
—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
1 Dec. 2025
What we’re left with is an effete description that exists for itself and doesn’t illuminate the character.
—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Cutaways to bits involving sad-sack local cop Maccarico (Marco Bonadei) interviewing kooky characters like an effete server (Milutin Dapcevic) at Taco King and Oreste getting a dressing down from his ex-wife, Arabella’s Mother (Margareth Made), just feel like mildly amusing filler.
—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effete
Adjective
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After delivery, the umbilical arteries constrict and degenerate.
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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.
Adjective
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Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
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In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
Adjective
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And while Creger still thought the bill was positive, she was disappointed to see the weakened language around adding lanes to highways.
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The weakened plants are more susceptible to insects and disease pests.
Adjective
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The juxtaposition of the apex masculinity of the professional athlete with traditionally feminine signifiers of the luxury handbag does seem to short circuit something in the wider culture.
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The brand's elevated styles are heavily marked down right now, including the feminine Lace Midi Dress at 57 percent off and the flattering Colorblock High-rise Riley Trousers at 54 percent off.
Adjective
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The casual lunch menu has dishes like crab cakes and roast beef sandwiches, while the Alexander Dobbin dinner menu centers on more decadent eats like lamb chops, veal, and standing beef rib roast.
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The bakery and its decadent creations — rotating flavors like Maple Bacon Glazed, Chocolate Salted Caramel Old-Fashioned, Lime Mascarpone Bismark and the CroDough (croissant doughnut) — made their debut recently at the San Jose center’s Park Valencia.
Adjective
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Jolted by a feeble office market, a growing number of developers are considering ways to convert their office properties to other uses, such as housing projects.
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Enervated cuteness and tryhard sincerity define a whole new wave of musicians, from Pittsburgh rockers feeble little horse to cringe-pop upcycler Worldpeace DMT to SoundCloud producer MASSI, whose songs spill with the tiny adorable detail of a toy train set.
Adjective
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Recreational swimming is not permitted, yet anglers fishing for tilapia, largemouth bass and carp are a common sight along the rocky sides of the soft-bottom areas.
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That first bite delivers the crispy outside with a soft chew of rice, followed by the hot dog.
Adjective
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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.
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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.
Cite this Entry
“Effete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effete. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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