emasculate

[ih-mas-kyuh-leyt, ih-mas-kyuh-lit, -leyt]

verb (used with object)

emasculated, emasculating 

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

Other Word Forms

• emasculation noun
• emasculative adjective
• emasculator noun
• emasculatory adjective
• self-emasculation noun
• unemasculated adjective
• unemasculative adjective
• unemasculatory 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

He thought that the assertive Congress of the 1970s had gone too far and had emasculated the presidency, making it nearly impossible for the president to get things done.

Read more on Salon

Yet to the extent we have an imperial presidency and emasculated Congress, it is a function of our politics—not Supreme Court jurisprudence.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That dynamic was taboo for generations of Americans who feared it might emasculate men and ruin couples’ romantic lives.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"The only way the swag gap wouldn't be problematic was if the partner with less swag was a cheerleader for their partner and proud of them rather than emasculated or resentful."

Read more on BBC

Adrift and emasculated, Stan is less a patriarch than the defeated captain of a sinking ship, drowning in his futility.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• vitiate