as in male
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men
a manly deep voice
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Recent Examples of manly
And women who tried to build muscle were seen as manly or unnatural.
—
Danielle Friedman, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025
A lot of people think that’s manly.
—Marc Malkin, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024
Cold War worriers envisaged manly, stiff-jawed computers ordering the launch of nuclear missiles or refusing to open the pod-bay doors.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Starting with Dennis Hopper’s The Last Movie (1971), Kristofferson brought his manly, craggy persona to the fore in such films as Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), the Michael Cimino debacle Heaven’s Gate (1980) and, as a corrupt sheriff, John Sayles’ Lone Star (1996).
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for manly
Danielle Friedman, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025
A lot of people think that’s manly.
—Marc Malkin, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024
Cold War worriers envisaged manly, stiff-jawed computers ordering the launch of nuclear missiles or refusing to open the pod-bay doors.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Starting with Dennis Hopper’s The Last Movie (1971), Kristofferson brought his manly, craggy persona to the fore in such films as Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), the Michael Cimino debacle Heaven’s Gate (1980) and, as a corrupt sheriff, John Sayles’ Lone Star (1996).
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for manly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manly
Adjective
-
There is no word yet on other casting picks, but the film will surely provide excellent roles for a variety of stars, including Marianne, and a trio of male suitors the sisters come to know, including Edward Ferrars, Colonel Brandon, and John Willoughby.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
25 June 2025
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While the male costars were snubbed for any major award nominations that year for the film, actress Kirsten Dunst scored a Golden Globe best supporting actress nod for her portrayal in the film.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
However, the 49-year-old actress noted that her own personal style tends to skew more toward edgy and masculine looks, much to the displeasure of her kids.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
-
The alpha as a crude avatar for masculine power makes perfect sense in that context.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manly. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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