as in feminine
of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities traditionally considered more suitable for women
an ancient statue of a young man of graceful, epicene beauty
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 epicene
For many men — and many women — these figures remain far more admirable than the epicene children of liberal imagination.
—
Samuel Goldman, The Week, 3 Nov. 2021
His name is Strat, and he is played with beguiling epicene virility and lungs of steel by the willowy Andrew Polec.
—Ben Brantley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2017
Samuel Goldman, The Week, 3 Nov. 2021
His name is Strat, and he is played with beguiling epicene virility and lungs of steel by the willowy Andrew Polec.
—Ben Brantley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epicene
Adjective
-
Such divisions shaped the critical reception of her work, with feminine and delicate being recurring adjectives.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
To be born male and live as feminine is understood, in certain Hindu frameworks, as embodying that same threshold.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The term kothi applies to a broad category of people assigned male at birth who are effeminate to varying degrees and might engage in same-sex relationships, but do not live in separate communities.—
Charles Preston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
-
One of the earliest of American masculinity influencers was President Theodore Roosevelt, who touted his own transformation from a timid, effeminate man – local presses mocked him in his early career – to a rugged outdoorsman.—
Miriam Eve Mora,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Why beef culture and agriculture matter in Texas Some of Talarico's critics seemed to be ripping on his manhood, referencing his support for the LGBTQ+ community, along with the purportedly unmanly notion of having, at one time, eschewed meat.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Clever rather than athletic; also unmanly.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Epicene.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epicene. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
