manly
[man-lee]
- having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength or bravery.
- pertaining to or suitable for males: manly sports.
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- Archaic. in a manly manner.
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Origin of manly
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comManly, manful, mannish mean having the traits or qualities that a culture regards as especially characteristic of or ideally appropriate to adult men. Manly is usually a term of approval, suggesting traits admired by society, such as determination, decisiveness, and steadiness: a manly acceptance of the facts; manly firmness of character. Manful, also a term of approval, stresses qualities such as courage, strength, and fortitude: a manful effort to overcome great odds. Mannish is most often used derogatorily in reference to the traits, manners, or accouterments of a woman that are thought to be more appropriate to or typical of a man: a mannish abruptness in her speech; She wore a severely mannish suit. See also male.
Antonyms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for manliness
Contemporary Examples
Later, after taking his own shirt off in a supposed show of manliness, Dre freaked out when Andre Jr. copied him.
Another tradition of manliness would point them toward discipline, sacrifice, and self-denial.
Alleged Santa Barbara Killer Elliot Rodger and the Twisted Cult of Modern MasculinityJames Poulos
May 26, 2014
The reason, Foster argues, is that impotence implies a lack of virility, a lack of manliness.
Perched atop a mountain of wavy, pulled-back hair is a mangled ball of manliness, a holdover from the days of the samurai.
I doubt you could have prevented the killing of their female partners by redefining their sense of manliness.
Historical Examples
It is astounding how ill-endowed Shakespeare was on the side of manliness.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
What perceptible sign of mature age or manliness is there about him?
And yet I could not help wondering at his natural temperance and self-restraint and manliness.
SymposiumPlato
He don't like me, that's all, and he has n't the manliness to say it.
Davenport Dunn, Volume 1 (of 2)Charles James Lever
"That more than repays me for all I did," said Paul, in a tone of mingled modesty and manliness.
Paul Prescott's ChargeHoratio Alger
manly
- possessing qualities, such as vigour or courage, generally regarded as appropriate to or typical of a man; masculine
- characteristic of or befitting a mana manly sport
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for manliness
manly
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper