UNMAN Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'unman' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unman are emasculate , enervate , and unnerve . While all these words mean "to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action," unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit. // a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

Q: In what contexts can 'emasculate' take the place of 'unman'?

The words emasculate and unman are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential. // an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Q: Where would 'enervate' be a reasonable alternative to 'unman'?

The words enervate and unman can be used in similar contexts, but enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort. // a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

Q: When is it sensible to use 'unnerve' instead of 'unman'?

While in some cases nearly identical to unman , unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act. // unnerved by the near collision

unman

verb

ˌən-ˈman

Definition of unman

as in to paralyze

to deprive of courage or confidence the near crash of the airliner was a completely unmanning experience for the passengers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to discourage

to lessen the courage or confidence of players who wouldn't let themselves be unmanned by the loss of a single game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb unman differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unman are emasculate, enervate, and unnerve. While all these words mean "to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action," unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

In what contexts can emasculate take the place of unman?

The words emasculate and unman are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Where would enervate be a reasonable alternative to unman?

The words enervate and unman can be used in similar contexts, but enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort.

a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

When is it sensible to use unnerve instead of unman?

While in some cases nearly identical to unman, unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.

unnerved by the near collision

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unman

Verb

She is paralyzed from the waist down after a suicide attempt following killing her children.

— Carmel Wroth, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Clancy, who was left paralyzed by a suicide attempt that followed the killings, was brought forward in her wheelchair to listen.

— Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of paralyze

Verb

One Discord user posted a threat to hand out hundreds of fliers at the store’s physical Sonny Angel launch event later that morning, falsely claiming that owners supported ICE to discourage would-be shoppers.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The law has in some cases discouraged people, and especially women, from wanting to marry at a time when Japan’s birth rate has fallen to dangerously low levels.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of discourage

Verb

However, Stone told Bialik that she was not frightened by the encounter.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026
The prospect of Sean Steur or Lewis Hall — whose contract situation Wilson refused to be drawn on, despite being asked three times — leaving is not something which frightens the hierarchy.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of frighten

Verb

Sogard followed with another single, and Jarren Duran battled Bassitt to a full count, frustrated with a check swing call, before drawing a walk to load the bases.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Few Republicans have frustrated Democrats in election after election like Valadao, a dairyman whose family emigrated from Portugal's Azores Islands.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of frustrate

Verb

William James almost eerily comfortable in situations that terrify everyone around him.

— Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Lily James and Jack Reynor‘s forthcoming horror-suspense film is aiming to terrify moviegoers just after the traditional spooky season.

— Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of terrify

Verb

Experts say cartels use car bombs to intimidate rivals and authorities, pressure the government and spread fear among civilians.

— María Verza, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
More generally, the movie, directed by Elegance Bratton, is about the historical context of this murder, the conscious and organized effort by white Southern citizens and officials to intimidate, persecute, and subjugate Black people.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of intimidate

Verb

After monitoring the situation, park managers found the bear unusually difficult to scare away and said its escalating proximity to humans posed a safety risk that was deemed unacceptable, according to the national park.

— Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Garner said HeeHaw charged toward the officers and continued approaching after a Polk County K-9 handler activated the electrical arc on a Taser in an attempt to scare him away.

— Christopher Harris, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of scare

Verb

Under Republican control, the House of Representatives has been emasculated.

— Linh Tat, Oc Register, 5 May 2026
No matter what agenda the president espoused—the economic pragmatism of Rafsanjani, the liberal aspirations of Mohammad Khatami, the populist provocations of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the nuclear diplomacy of Hassan Rouhani—Khamenei emasculated him.

— Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026

Definition of emasculate

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.

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unman. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unman

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

watershed

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes