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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Example Sentences

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 This series touches on a lot of timely issues: The manosphere, modern masculinity, online bullying. Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025 So what can the show’s breakout star, Owen Cooper, teach me about modern masculinity, creativity and how best to protect my own boy? Nell Frizzell, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2025 What unfolds is a two-person dialogue on the subject of fragile masculinity. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025 Normalizing emotional vulnerability and seeking help among men without fear of judgment or loss of masculinity is an essential step in reframing the conversation. Essence, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for masculinity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masculinity
Noun
  • What was supposed to be a deal-making meeting where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would thank America for help fighting Russia and, in return, would provide billions in rare earth metals turned into a public manhood fight.
    Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Mar. 2025
  • To have a trans man in this role is both a meaningful reflection on what elements (and struggles) of manhood are learned and adopted, as well as a downright gut-busting parody of the type of bro-y teenager that usually appears in Hollywood’s teenage comedies.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • One of the most famous of the walkers was Edward Payton Weston, whose many ultra-walks touted a mix of sensationalism, spectacle, manliness, and health.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Some believe that this practice ensures boys remain heterosexual and promotes manliness.
    Essence, Essence, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But before then, they were exclusively worn by men and were a sign of virility and high social status.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Tom Cruise, that avatar of all-American virility, opened the evening with an address that reaffirmed the rightness of the proceedings, much as Peck had in 1968.
    Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • His delusional machismo can’t quite match Steve’s galactic, single-minded confidence.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The Artist Formerly Known as Rambo also goes way back with Statham, who was one of the young guns in The Expendables (2010), the first in a franchise of Avengers-type team-ups of aging masters of mayhem that doubles as an ode to Eighties machismo and human growth hormones.
    John DeVore, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Masculinity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masculinity. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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