as in masculinity
the set of qualities traditionally considered appropriate for or characteristic of men studio executives wondered if the actor possessed the manliness expected in an action hero

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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 manliness This revelation reframes much of the earlier novel, from his paranoia to his discomfort in stiff formal clothing to his father’s obsession with manliness. Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024 But there are challenges for shifting diets toward less beef, from misinformation about soy and protein, to social stigmas connecting beef-eating with manliness. Julia Simon, NPR, 15 Sep. 2024 By doing so, those conservatives are seemingly hoping to intertwine Trump with the rough-and-tumble mythology that the country’s youngest president himself played up — a paragon of manliness who fought in wars, hunted big game and tamed the wilderness. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 16 July 2024 Ruiz presidential campaign The road to parity Mexico is known internationally for its machismo, a cultural emphasis put on stereotypical manliness and control. Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for manliness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manliness
masculinity
Noun
  • An increasing number of boys are lonely, isolated and confused, wrestling with the aftermath of the #MeToo movement and the expectations of rigid masculinity, which has been widely characterized as toxic.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Her work challenges traditional codes of masculinity, using subtle draping and unexpected cuts to create a new language of style.
    Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025

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“Manliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manliness. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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