as in male
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men
men were once expected to be interested only in such virile activities as hunting
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of virile
In The Empire’s frame, residents of a coastal village in northern France — gruff, virile fisherman Jony (Brandon Vlieghe) and teenage tease Line (Lyna Khoudri) — reveal their oddball allegiance to extraterrestrial invaders.
—
Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
The Victorians, perhaps sensing that Britain’s empire could not stay young and virile forever, took this Romantic dread and ran with it.
—Matthew Redmond, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
New cassette players are being manufactured and competition is virile, musicians are releasing more and more records on the format and Amazon is selling old cassettes like a bumper crop.
—Spin Team, SPIN, 28 Nov. 2024
And John himself is a strong, virile man willing to take control of any situation.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for virile
Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
The Victorians, perhaps sensing that Britain’s empire could not stay young and virile forever, took this Romantic dread and ran with it.
—Matthew Redmond, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
New cassette players are being manufactured and competition is virile, musicians are releasing more and more records on the format and Amazon is selling old cassettes like a bumper crop.
—Spin Team, SPIN, 28 Nov. 2024
And John himself is a strong, virile man willing to take control of any situation.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for virile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virile
Adjective
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Today, Ivo is one of the most beloved male actors in Estonia, but that little vodka improvisation was actually one of his very first film roles.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
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Seyia came to Cincinnati through a breeding recommendation and was paired with Faru, a male black rhino.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The collection also reinterprets LV’s archival icons through a modern, masculine lens.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
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But the geranium adds a feminine touch that balances out what could have been a more traditionally masculine fougère.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Virile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virile. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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