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
  • Its venom, potent enough to kill an elephant, is a cocktail of neurotoxins that can paralyze muscles and shut down vital systems in a matter of hours.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Travel was paralyzed along the Interstate 10 corridor with portions already receiving widespread snowfall totals of 3 to 6 inches.
    Karina Tsui, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Economists warn mass deportation will likely harm U.S. workers and the economy by discouraging investment, disrupting the labor market and reducing the supply of workers.
    Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • But the executive did not appear to be discouraged by the current budget situation.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Where another artist might rely on grotesque specifics to frighten the reader, Mignola’s insinuating expanses of black ink conceal all but the most necessary details of a rich and malevolent world, filled with monstrosities, yes, but also oddities, many of them delightful.
    Sam Thielman, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
  • As the devastating wildfires began to sweep across Los Angeles on Jan. 7, frightened residents were not turning to Netflix.
    Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The most recent deadline extensions weren’t announced until the day before the vouchers were set to expire, which frustrated him.
    Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
  • And with all the investigative resources and research methods of academia, I have been frustrated by the death of expertise on social media platforms that value high-frequency reactions and often baseless punditry—not rigor.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • At the Commerce Department, employees were terrified whenever a meeting was called, one worker said.
    Erica L. Green, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
  • At least, to the neighbors terrified that Eric Adams’s favorite private club would, after a brief and contentious experiment this summer, take over the 1873 Hedges Inn and bring with it more noise, traffic, and possibly Kardashian types.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • For the uninitiated, dragon fruit can be intimidating.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Frame Criticisms Constructively Delivering critical feedback or raising concerns can be intimidating, but CEOs value honesty when it’s delivered thoughtfully.
    Chiara Alzati, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • All these precautions are not meant to scare people, Tetro and Gerba said, but to inform.
    Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Because these WMAs are designed to provide two conflicting services — to maintain wildlife habitat and to offer recreation, including hunting opportunities that may scare the birds away — no one really knows how the resident geese perceive the situation.
    GrrlScientist, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • 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
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near unman

Cite this Entry

“Unman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unman. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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