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

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

By emasculating standards for performance, equity grading has both encouraged and hidden academic dysfunction. —Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Apparently, not in the D.C. Court of Appeals, and our cowardly Congress will rue the day this emasculating ruling remains the law of the land. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025

He’s not emasculated, there’s no affair on the side, there’s no secret loathing, there’s no immature handling of arguments or true failures of communication with dire consequences. —Alex Ross, People.com, 19 July 2025