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
  • Was Gerry Bertier really paralyzed?
    Jessica Booth, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
  • New York — Government shutdowns can be political earthquakes that paralyze Washington, DC.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Researchers have known this for decades, which is also why pregnant people are discouraged from using hot tubs or being outside for prolonged periods on a hot day.
    Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Several reasons explain the supply shortage, including a lag in home building, rising construction costs and high mortgage rates that discourage current homeowners from moving and giving up their lower rate.
    Rhaina Cohen, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If the intent was to frighten the population, the move succeeded.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Within my book, one of the things that frightens me most is the fact that with censorship, there’s often not a clear red line, right?
    Fiction Non Fiction October 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Keita notes the majority of Africa's population is under 35 years old and millions are unemployed and frustrated with the status quo.
    Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
  • He may be frustrated by the lack of basic defensive discipline and shape and Messi may shake his head at the incompetence behind him, but the choices made in roster construction just can’t always be compensated for by the boys from Barcelona.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Aldo had spent his time in the States terrified that he would be deported back to Cuba and jailed.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The Civil War unfolded in battlefields, but also wrought the Draft Riots in New York City, during which dozens of Black residents were murdered, property was destroyed, and the city terrified.
    Annie Polland, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While the look of huitlacoche may be intimidating — even off-putting — to some, its distinctive flavor is relatively mild.
    Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
  • While exhibitions are the biggest draw, the site has also welcomed more than 5,000 people to its open days, including 1,600 students from nearby schools who might feel intimidated to step into Chanel’s offices in central Paris.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The modus operandi generally involved either scaring a convenience store owner and fleeing with thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes, like one such incident at a 7-Eleven in Walnut Creek where masked men stole $8,000 in tobacco products, authorities said.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
  • If someone unexpectedly opens the door to enter the room, a harsh alarm will sound to scare off the intruder—adding an extra layer beyond the hotel’s typical locks.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And yet precisely this dynamic ensures that commitment between men, the kind of domesticity that David and Giovanni attempt to establish in Giovanni’s room, can only ever be emasculating.
    Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
  • By emasculating standards for performance, equity grading has both encouraged and hidden academic dysfunction.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Unman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unman. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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