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
Relevance
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 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
See All Example Sentences for emasculate
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
See All Example Sentences for emasculate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emasculate
Verb
-
Because of the paralyzing fear caused by their operation, small businesses whose customer bases and workforces include immigrant community members temporarily closed due to the sharp drop in customers and fear that their businesses would be subject to CBP raids.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
-
McDonald was only 20 months on the job when a 15-year-old suspect, Shavod Jones, opened fire on him in Central Park on July 12, 1986, striking McDonald in the face, neck and wrist, and paralyzing him instantly.—
Barry Williams,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The goal was to intimidate the family into not competing in the Beijing Games.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The grand jury indictment charged Lemon and eight others with conspiracy against right of religious freedom at place of worship and another count of working to injure, intimidate or interfere with the exercise the right of religious freedom at a place of worship.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While 21 page-menus might frighten the coach of a position where speed and agility are crucial, these types of moments are exactly how Harris thinks his unit will mesh.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And with his clutch reputation, teams are terrified of him in big moments.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But after that, the administration was terrified of losing Tang – Arkansas had been sniffing around – and in order to guarantee that the coach who had led a whopping 36 games in his lifetime wasn’t going anywhere, gave him a fresh new deal with a bunch more money.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What happened Tuesday should scare away any of the remaining top prospects who would want to play for this berating blowhard.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Some cities in China have banned fireworks out of concerns over safety and air pollution, but the measures are controversial as firecrackers, traditionally used to scare off evil spirits, remain central to Lunar New Year celebrations.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Emasculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emasculate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
