Womanishness (Noun)
Meaning
The trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man); "the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy"; "Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness"; "he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Usages
Examples
- The old-fashioned notion that men should suppress any display of emotion was rooted in a deep-seated fear of womanishness.
- His love of fashion and interior design was seen as a sign of womanishness by his traditionalist father.
- The ancient Greeks often associated womanishness with a lack of courage and martial spirit.
- The stereotype that men who enjoy cooking are somehow less masculine due to their alleged womanishness still persists in some circles.
- The boy's parents worried that his interest in dance and music would make him seem weak and prone to womanishness in the eyes of his peers.