Synonyms of emasculate

emasculate

verb

i-ˈma-skyə-ˌlāt 

as in to paralyze

to deprive of courage or confidence

being eliminated early in one's very first tennis tournament can be an emasculating experience

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paralyze
• intimidate
• frighten
• terrify
• scare
• demoralize
• unsettle
• unnerve
• unman
• undo
• weaken
• debilitate
• discourage
• neuter
• enfeeble
• terrorize
• soften
• enervate
• unstring
• waste
• disturb
• dishearten
• dispirit
• sap
• upset
• daunt
• perturb
• unhinge
• unbalance
• psych (out)
• prostrate
• derange
• tire
• faze
• dismay
• disquiet
• discompose
• craze
• madden
• weird out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nerve
• strengthen
• encourage
• fortify
• embolden
• hearten

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb emasculate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of emasculate are enervate, unman, and unnerve. While all these words mean "to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action," emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

When is it sensible to use enervate instead of emasculate?

While the synonyms enervate and emasculate are close in meaning, enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort.

a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

When is unman a more appropriate choice than emasculate?

Although the words unman and emasculate have much in common, unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

In what contexts can unnerve take the place of emasculate?

The meanings of unnerve and emasculate largely overlap; however, unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.

unnerved by the near collision

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of emasculate

No matter what agenda the president espoused—the economic pragmatism of Rafsanjani, the liberal aspirations of Mohammad Khatami, the populist provocations of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nuclear diplomacy of Hassan Rouhani—Khamenei emasculated him. — Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026

In the political sphere—an arena that’s increasingly entangled with social media—figures such as Elon Musk decry empathy as an emasculating plague. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026

Jordan continues yapping about being emasculated and being less of a man for staying with his wife. — Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025

And yet precisely this dynamic ensures that commitment between men, the kind of domesticity that David and Giovanni attempt to establish in Giovanni’s room, can only ever be emasculating. — Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025