unman
Americanverb (used with object)
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to deprive of courage or fortitude; break down the manly spirit of.
Constant conflict finally unmanned him.
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to deprive of virility; emasculate; castrate.
verb
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to cause to lose courage or nerve
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to make effeminate
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to remove the men from
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archaic to deprive of human qualities
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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unmansimple
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unmanssimple
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have unmannedperfect
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has unmannedperfect
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am unmanningprogressive
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are unmanningprogressive
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is unmanningprogressive
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have been unmanningperfect progressive
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has been unmanningperfect progressive
Past
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unmannedsimple
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had unmannedperfect
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was unmanningprogressive
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were unmanningprogressive
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had been unmanningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of unman
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
There’s fear, but not the kind of terror that might unman me, might tempt me to hop the fence and run for home.
From Salon ● Apr. 17, 2015
The same impulse to unman a social or cultural threat gambols across Groucho’s exchanges with Eliot.
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 25, 2014
But the very process that allows it to make these corrections—its palindromes—can also unman it.
From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2012
But the prestige of Victoria grew and grew, nor were her prerogatives trifling: she could disband the army, unman the navy, set free all prisoners, make every British citizen a peer.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Does the thought of facing the Stark boy unman you, Tyrion? Your brother Jaime would be eager to come to grips with him."
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
"Wind. Trees rustling. A wolf. Which sound is it that unmans you so, Gared?"
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Dwelling on this idea unmans me—unfits me for sterner duties.
From Guy Fawkes or The Gunpowder Treason by Ainsworth, William Harrison
Sometimes feeling the spontaneous courage of a man, I seem to wish for the decisive minute; the next instant a message from my wife, sent by one of the children, quite unmans me.
From Travels in the United States of America Commencing in the Year 1793, and Ending in 1797. With the Author's Journals of his Two Voyages Across the Atlantic. by Priest, William
At some future time I will tell you the reason why you see me what I am; but I cannot now—the very thought of it unmans me.”
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume VI by Leighton, Alexander
“It does, young gentlemen, it does,” said Mr Large, in a grateful tone; “I feel a gnawing in my inside which quite unmans me.”
From The Three Commanders by Dugdale, Thomas Cantrell
Maguras are 25-foot-long unmanned speedboats that can carry a payload of more than 1,700 pounds for more than 350 miles, according to Uforce.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Army’s Tactical Missile System in Germany, to build a Patriot air-defense system sustainment and maintenance facility in Europe, and to acquire long-range unmanned maritime patrol aircraft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
It can impose disproportionate costs because it adapts, continually out-learns the enemy, and manufactures unmanned systems at greater scale and with greater skill.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Experts at the time said they believed it was most likely a fuel tank or bladder tank containing hydrazine - a highly volatile propellant - from an unmanned rocket.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
A total of fourteen unmanned missions deposited everything we would need for surface operations.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
His final unmanning, complete with broken nose, is served up at Carly’s office by the now-empowered female trio.
From Time ● Apr. 24, 2014
In his new movie, Langella finds excellent employment for that unmanning stare.
From Time ● Aug. 16, 2012
As if sculpted from the earth, Tabor's voice resonates with ancient calm, both consoling and unmanning its listener.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 3, 2011
A new neighbor, Tim Valentine, confesses to another sort of problem: an initial enthusiasm followed immediately by unmanning apathy.
From Time Magazine Archive
“It is something like idleness and luxury unmanning us —the strings have gone slack and out of tune.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
