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

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 This is taking programs that people depend on to save lives and emasculating them. Selina Wang, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2025 On the downside, the show has some terrible notions about Jewish women that play into controlling and emasculating stereotypes. Nina Metz, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024 This is taking programs that people depend on to save lives and emasculating them. Selina Wang, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2025 Only Adam is so emasculated by the stick, and Peter unwilling to do anything on the day’s shoot other than nod — as previously agreed — that the scene goes unshot. Jack King, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for emasculate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emasculate
Verb
  • Moving Forward With Strategic Confidence Economic uncertainty should not paralyze your business's strategy.
    David Zybin, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • Horn was left partially paralyzed by the tiger attack and, after a brief comeback in 2010, the pair retired from show business.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • That means people who are counting votes or knocking on doors can’t be intimidated, threatened or coerced.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
  • If mixing up cocktails at home seems intimidating, don't fear—the secret to your new favorite drink might already be in the back of your fridge.
    Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • The goal of strengthening Washington’s presence should be to reassure partners that U.S. pressure is designed to create stronger alliances, not to pave the way for abandonment, as well as to ensure that resisting China is viable for countries that are frightened by Beijing.
    A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The American Declaration of Independence and Constitution frightened monarchies and despots around the world without a single bullet or gunboat.
    Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The prospective repercussions terrify the corner of the AI universe concerned about safety, industry experts said, particularly as leading players pursue artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which is technology that rivals or exceeds human intelligence.
    Hayden Field,Jonathan Vanian,Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 14 May 2025
  • The radiotherapy had caused swelling in my brain—apparently a normal response, but still terrifying.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Start to say no to distractions that do not serve your higher purpose, and start saying yes to the things that challenge you, stretch you and even scare you a little.
    Melissa Sierra, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
  • What scares and excites you about where AI is headed for the next generation of artists?
    Lily Marks, Time, 5 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Emasculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emasculate. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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