emasculate

[ verb ih-mas-kyuh-leyt; adjective ih-mas-kyuh-lit, -leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, e·mas·cu·lat·ed, e·mas·cu·lat·ing.

1. to deprive of strength; weaken:

   The law was emasculated by its opponents, making it largely ineffective by the time it was passed.

   Synonyms: soften, devitalize, undermine, debilitate

2. to make (a man) feel less masculine:

   Though some men might feel emasculated not making an income, I'm very happy as a stay-at-home father.

3. to remove the testicles of; castrate.

adjective

1. deprived of or lacking strength or vigor; effeminate.

emasculate

verb

1. to remove the testicles of; castrate; geld
2. to deprive of vigour, effectiveness, etc
3. botany to remove the stamens from (a flower) to prevent self-pollination for the purposes of plant breeding

adjective

1. castrated; gelded
2. deprived of strength, effectiveness, etc

Derived Forms

• eˈmasculative, adjective
• eˌmascuˈlation, noun
• eˈmascuˌlator, noun

Other Words From

• e·mas·cu·la·tion [ih-mas-ky, uh, -, ley, -sh, uh, n], noun
• e·mas·cu·la·tive adjective
• e·mas·cu·la·tor noun
• e·mas·cu·la·to·ry [ih-, mas, -ky, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
• self-e·mas·cu·la·tion noun
• un·e·mas·cu·lat·ed adjective
• un·e·mas·cu·la·tive adjective
• un·e·mas·cu·la·to·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of emasculate¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin ēmasculātus (past participle of ēmasculāre ), equivalent to ē- “from”+ māscul(us) “male” + -ātus adjective suffix; e- ¹, male, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of emasculate¹

C17: from Latin ēmasculāre, from masculus male; see masculine

Example Sentences

It's toxic masculinity that tells men it's emasculating to embrace caretaking duties.

From Salon

The idea is to create a permission structure for men to support Harris and not feel emasculated by doing so.

From Salon

In other words, to stake their claim for American men, Republicans have tried emasculating their opponent.

From Salon

“He emasculated any public agency that might put a brake on his power,” Hunt said.

From Los Angeles Times

It's childish and weird to act like even looking at a tampon box will emasculate you.

From Salon

Related Words

• vitiate