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unmanly

[uhn-man-lee]
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adjective, un·man·li·er, un·man·li·est.
  1. not manly; not characteristic of or befitting a man; weak, timid, or cowardly.
  2. effeminate.
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Origin of unmanly

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at un-1, manly
Related formsun·man·li·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

effeminateemasculatesissywomanishwomanlyafraidcowardlyfaintheartedfearfulpusillanimoustimiddegradingdishonorablegutlessignoblemean

Examples from the Web for unmanly

Historical Examples

  • Will you or will you not answer for your unmanly and brutal conduct?'

    The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby

    Charles Dickens

  • He was above all mean and unmanly feelings—he would withdraw his objection.

    The Christian

    Hall Caine

  • If I seem cruel and unmanly, it is because I wish to be kind.

  • Did the Dean mean to imply that his conduct hitherto had been unmanly?

    Is He Popenjoy?

    Anthony Trollope

  • These troubles did not come all at once and I thought it unmanly to heed them.

British Dictionary definitions for unmanly

unmanly

adjective
  1. not masculine or virile
  2. ignoble, cowardly, or dishonourable
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Derived Formsunmanliness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unmanly

adj.

"degrading to a human," late 15c. (cf. Middle Dutch onmamlijc, German unmännlich); see unman + -ly (1).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper