Meaning

(of a person) Showing characteristics that are not manly, such as being immature, effeminate or cowardly, which might be construed as an indicator of weakness or of baseness of character..

Definitions by Sense

1. (of a person) Showing characteristics that are not manly, such as being immature, effeminate or cowardly, which might be construed as an indicator of weakness or of baseness of character.
2. (archaic) Of or pertaining to something not human.
3. (of a behaviour or action) Not acceptable from a man.
4. (of a behaviour or action) Not becoming of a man.
5. (of a behaviour or action) Cowardly, base.
6. In a manner that is unmanly.

Example Sentences

'I do not know which is the worse,' he cried, 'the fraudulent old villain or the unmanly young cub. […]

He'd be wearing white pants and playing lawn tennis presently if he continued to grow much softer and more unmanly.

Nothing captured the alt-right mentality better than cuckservative, with its taunt that moderation is unmanly and certain conservative males are cuckolds.

And then, it may be, of his wish to roam Repented he, but in his bosom slept The silent thought, nor from his lips did come One word of wail, whilst others sate and wept, And to the reckless gales unmanly moaning kept.

I had bought a toy in the street for my own amusement. It represented a woman, a young mother, flinging her little son over her head with one hand and catching him in the other ... The unmanly chuckle always came, I found, when the poor lady dropped her babe, […]

But when, instead of an impotent and unmanly struggle for existence, he found that his friend had forborne, with the customary and dignified submission of an Indian warrior, until an opportunity had offered to escape, and that he had then manifested the spirit and decision of the most gifted brave, his gratification became nearly too powerful to be concealed.

When they've got nobody but themselves to think of it don't so much matter as I know of; but to keep on breaking the hearts of those as never did you anything but good, and wouldn't if they lived for a hundred years, is cowardly and unmanly any way you look at it.

Such a man does not understand the simplest rudiments of those principles which are the basis of true prosperity, and is not only totally unfitted to rise out of his wretchedness, but is actually attracting to himself a still deeper wretchedness by dwelling in, and acting out, indolent, deceptive, and unmanly thoughts.

Word Forms

• unmanlier
• more unmanly
• unmanliest
• most unmanly

Synonyms for unmanly

Antonyms for unmanly

Related Words

When Should You Use Unmanly?

Use unmanly when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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