unmanly

[uhn-man-lee]

See more synonyms for unmanly on Thesaurus.com

adjective, un·man·li·er, un·man·li·est.

not manly; not characteristic of or befitting a man; weak, timid, or cowardly.
effeminate.

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 for unmanly

effeminate, emasculate, sissy, womanish, womanly, afraid, cowardly, fainthearted, fearful, pusillanimous, timid, degrading, dishonorable, gutless, ignoble, mean

Examples from the Web for unmanly

Historical Examples of unmanly

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.
The Old Countess; or, The Two Proposals
Ann S. Stephens
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.
Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 3, January 19, 1884.
Various

British Dictionary definitions for unmanly

unmanly

adjective

not masculine or virile
ignoble, cowardly, or dishonourable

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).