MALENESS Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

maleness

noun

Definition of maleness

as in masculinity

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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 maleness Public speech was a—if not the—defining attribute of maleness. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026 The men handling their maleness was interesting. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 Fact is Bruce Springsteen has forever been a man of the people, a man in search of his own definition of his maleness and his humanity. — Kevin Powell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025 Becoming Lazarus particularly allowed Claflin to explore maleness. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maleness

Noun

There is a striking focus on Black masculinity, which is the prism through which Enninful experienced the ’90s.

— Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
The race also turned on masculinity and anti-transgender attacks, the 19th reported.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of masculinity

Noun

Lee ingratiates himself by pretending to be interested in becoming a CO himself — attracted to the manliness and the glamor.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
While concerns regarding testosterone levels are new, anxiety about manliness is ancient, often rising with a society’s material comfort.

— Elizabeth Dray, STAT, 21 July 2026

Definition of manliness

Noun

Smallwood attacks Nick’s virility, saying he’ll be publicly humiliated when his wife has to bail him out again in court.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
The frozen velocity of paint whipped across a canvas suggested a new visual metaphor for intensity, aggression, violence, virility, force, energy, music, and ecstasy, a more efficient representation than any previous word or picture had managed.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of virility

Noun

Though his stage presence could easily veer into a machismo-heavy persona, Robles sets himself apart in comedy by being the opposite.

— Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Yet in a land where machismo still reigns, it’s considered a rather severe insult.

— Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of machismo

Browse Nearby Words

malefactors

maleness

males

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“Maleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maleness. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of maleness

noun

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