emasculate

verb

emas·​cu·​late i-ˈma-skyə-ˌlāt 

emasculated; emasculating

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of strength, vigor, or spirit : weaken

2

: to deprive of virility or procreative power : castrate

3

: to remove the androecium of (a flower) in the process of artificial cross-pollination

emasculate

i-ˈma-skyə-lət 

adjective

emasculation

i-ˌma-skyə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

emasculator

i-ˈma-skyə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• demoralize
• paralyze
• undo
• unman
• unnerve
• unstring

Choose the Right Synonym for emasculate

unnerve, enervate, unman, emasculate mean to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action.

unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.

unnerved by the near collision

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

unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

Examples of emasculate in a Sentence

He plays the role of a meek husband who has been emasculated by his domineering wife.

Critics charged that this change would emasculate the law.

Recent Examples on the Web

Only Adam is so emasculated by the stick, and Peter unwilling to do anything on the day’s shoot other than nod — as previously agreed — that the scene goes unshot. —Jack King, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024

Alternately, this man is taking good care of the home and family for his suffragist wife, but he’s thus emasculated. —Natalie Kinkade, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2024

Williams also alluded to Choyce possibly feeling emasculated in the long run. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 6 Oct. 2024

In his world, homosexual signifies something at once depraved and emasculated. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin emasculatus, past participle of emasculare, from e- + masculus male — more at male

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

emasculate

verb

emas·​cu·​late i-ˈmas-kyə-ˌlāt 

emasculated; emasculating

1

: to deprive of masculine strength or spirit : weaken

2

: castrate

emasculation

-ˌmas-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

emasculator

-ˈmas-kyə-ˌlāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

emasculate

transitive verb

emas·​cu·​late i-ˈmas-kyə-ˌlāt 

emasculated; emasculating

: to deprive of virility or procreative power : castrate

emasculation

-ˌmas-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

emasculate

transitive verb

emas·​cu·​late i-ˈmas-kyə-ˌlāt 

emasculated; emasculating

: to deprive (as a law or judicial opinion) of force or effectiveness