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View synonyms for virile

virile

[ vir-uhlor, especially British, -ahyl ]

adjective

  1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a man; masculine; manly:

    virile strength.

  2. having or exhibiting masculine energy, forcefulness, or strength in a marked degree.

    Synonyms: vigorous

  3. characterized by a vigorous, masculine spirit:

    a virile literary style.

  4. of, relating to, or capable of procreation.


virile

/ ˈvɪraɪl; vɪˈrɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an adult male
  2. (of a male) possessing high sexual drive and capacity for sexual intercourse
  3. of or capable of copulation or procreation
  4. strong, forceful, or vigorous
“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
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Derived Forms

  • virility, noun
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Other Words From

  • non·virile adjective
  • sub·virile adjective
  • ultra·virile adjective
  • un·virile adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of virile1

1480–90; from Latin virīlis “manly,” equivalent to vir “man” (akin to Old English wer “man”; werewolf ) + -īlis -ile
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Word History and Origins

Origin of virile1

C15: from Latin virīlis manly, from vir a man; related to Old English wer man and probably to Latin vis strength
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Synonym Study

See male.
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Example Sentences

Judging by the sporting photos on his campaign website, Kennedy would like to be seen as the virile, athletic and spry choice for the White House.

It’s a story about a heated affair with a younger man, accompanied by a virile electronic beat.

Set in New Orleans in the early 1900s, this reboot is more faithful to its original text with virile vampires and red-blooded romance front and center, just as Rice originally wanted it.

Their guru’s virile presence and checkered past preceded him in his days as a figure on the Sunset Strip.

To call this a virile view of art would be to imply that feminine eyes are incapable of “big strong seeing,” which obviously won’t do.

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