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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Recent Examples of manliness
After taking over from the ailing Boris Yeltsin a quarter century ago, Putin started his presidency by projecting a near-comical image of manliness and invincibility.
—
Andrew Ryvkin, The Atlantic, 14 Oct. 2025
But just like the men who understood changing a diaper in the 1990s didn't take away their manliness, so can participating in their spouse's emotional needs.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
There's a true earthy manliness that's really f---ing raw and awesome.
—Yolanda MacHado, EW.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Unsubstantiated claims about the distracting nature of women, the perils of feminine qualities, and the inherent manliness of war hardly provide a solid foundation on which to construct policy.
—Megan H. MacKenzie, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2012
See All Example Sentences for manliness
Andrew Ryvkin, The Atlantic, 14 Oct. 2025
But just like the men who understood changing a diaper in the 1990s didn't take away their manliness, so can participating in their spouse's emotional needs.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
There's a true earthy manliness that's really f---ing raw and awesome.
—Yolanda MacHado, EW.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Unsubstantiated claims about the distracting nature of women, the perils of feminine qualities, and the inherent manliness of war hardly provide a solid foundation on which to construct policy.
—Megan H. MacKenzie, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2012
See All Example Sentences for manliness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manliness
masculinity
Noun
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From the colorful, floppy hairstyles of Korean boy band Stray Kids, or the non-binary wardrobes of trailblazing singers like G-Dragon of Big Bang and Seonghwa of ATEEZ, K-pop’s male idols have long fostered diverse expressions of masculinity.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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And Motel Destino is a very Brazilian expression of poisonous masculinity.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manliness. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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