MASCULINITY Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

masculinity

noun

ˌma-skyə-ˈli-nə-tē

Definition of masculinity

as in maleness

the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of men some men believe that wearing pink would undermine their masculinity

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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.

Recent Examples of masculinity His fiction also addresses such topics as family, identity, and masculinity. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026 The role of masculinity Proving your masculinity can become a central part of proving your worth and fit at a fraternity. — Pietro A. Sasso, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026 Lukas Dhont | Belgium | 120 min Cannes Acting Prize winners Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne lead Lukas Dhont’s deeply moving drama about grief, masculinity, friendship, and the pressure to become who others expect. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026 Over the course of three years, Kaczynski endured unrelenting ridicule of his intelligence, masculinity, and ideas, and along the way started journaling about revenge fantasies and dreams of escaping to nature. — Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for masculinity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for masculinity

Noun

Public speech was a—if not the—defining attribute of maleness.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
The men handling their maleness was interesting.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

Definition of maleness

Noun

That was a great pinball experience, just to bounce off these guys my whole life as a boy and kind of go into manhood and make music with those guys.

— Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, her son Ruari (Murphy) is in a crisis about his manhood, and her parents are ailing.

— Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of manhood

Noun

Lee ingratiates himself by pretending to be interested in becoming a CO himself — attracted to the manliness and the glamor.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
While concerns regarding testosterone levels are new, anxiety about manliness is ancient, often rising with a society’s material comfort.

— Elizabeth Dray, STAT, 21 July 2026

Definition of manliness

Noun

The frozen velocity of paint whipped across a canvas suggested a new visual metaphor for intensity, aggression, violence, virility, force, energy, music, and ecstasy, a more efficient representation than any previous word or picture had managed.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
Experts believe the statue may have symbolized masculinity, virility, strength, and courage.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of virility

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masculine

masculinity

mash

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“Masculinity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masculinity. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of masculinity

noun

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