EFFETENESS Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

effeteness

noun

as in effeminacy

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in tenderness

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for effeteness

Noun

This horror at effeminacy echoes across Baldwin’s novels and essays.

— Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The researchers theorized this could be in part because of greater stigma toward effeminacy in boys than masculinity in girls.

— Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2023

Definition of effeminacy

Noun

On screen, Guitarrica’s expressive and angular visage conveys the fright and uncertainty that afflict his character, who is desperate for tenderness.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
In Sense and Sensibility, Nordrum plays Colonel Brandon with heart-wrenching tenderness.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of tenderness

Noun

All inspired by Rise & Fall’s signature knitwear and outerwear, the designs recast the language of clothing in sculptural forms, bringing together the softness of textiles and the presence of jewelry.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Non-interest expenses came in below expectations, which is encouraging, but the $112 million beat versus the FactSet consensus didn't make up for all of the top-line softness.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of softness

Noun

Could Kleist’s conjecture provide a key to their seeming vacancy, their resignation, their helplessness, suggesting that in their benighted condition lies spiritual perfection?

— Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
There are also horrifying incidents of helplessness and despair, as well as touching examples of hope, faith and redemption.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of helplessness

Noun

The study was designed to examine the psychological effects of authority and powerlessness in a prison setting, according to the university.

— Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026
New characters are introduced, many interesting details are offered, yet the narration never loses its focus, every sentence adding to the characters’ mounting sense of powerlessness in the face of such a tragic death.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of powerlessness

Noun

Since the 1970s, feminist scholars have been actively documenting the ways menstruation has been used to ground false arguments about women’s weakness, invalidism, and inferiority in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
As Eliot went through a crisis involving his turn to Christianity, Vivien’s invalidism, and his mother’s death, his letters got more and more intense and confessional.

— Christopher Tayler, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022

Definition of invalidism

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.

Browse Nearby Words

effete

effeteness

efficacious

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Effeteness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effeteness. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of effeteness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

syncretic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes