virile
Americanadjective
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of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a man; masculine; manly.
virile strength.
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having or exhibiting masculine energy, forcefulness, or strength in a marked degree.
- Synonyms:
- vigorous
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characterized by a vigorous, masculine spirit.
a virile literary style.
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of, relating to, or capable of procreation.
adjective
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of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an adult male
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(of a male) possessing high sexual drive and capacity for sexual intercourse
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of or capable of copulation or procreation
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strong, forceful, or vigorous
Related Words
See male.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of virile
1480–90; from Latin virīlis “manly,” equivalent to vir “man” (akin to Old English wer “man”; see werewolf) + -īlis -ile
Explanation
You'll often hear the word virile referring to a manly, powerful man, because the word means having physical strength and other typical masculine qualities. When you think of a virile man, you imagine a tough, strong guy who's full of energy, vigor, and sexual potency. He's definitely not a wimp. Men admire him and women want to be with him. Superman is one guy who could easily be described as virile. The Man of Steel, with his muscles rippling under the "S" emblazoned on his costume, has superhuman strength and charm. That's why Lois Lane can't keep her eyes — and hands — off him.
Vocabulary lists containing virile
"My Wonder Horse," Vocabulary from the short story
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Henry David Thoreau "Civil Disobedience" (1849)
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Boy: Tales of Childhood
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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.
Virile young conductors swoon over Bruckner at his biggest and baddest, as Mehta did when he recorded the Eighth with the L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 11, 2025
Virile, passionate, patriotic: these adjectives apply to the male lead of Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca, as well as to the movie itself.
From The Guardian • Mar. 1, 2018
The new London play, Night Life of a Virile Potato, was hooted, but its star, tempestuous Actress Sarah Churchill, 45, who had not trod the West End boards for twelve years, got a good hand.
From Time Magazine Archive
Virile to the point of coarseness, bursting with a health and vigor 100% American, they were rushed to the stricken vineyards of France and upon their robust stalks were grafted delicate, refined French shoots.
From Time Magazine Archive
New York Times Virile, with the rugged strength of the West, The Grafters is like the current of a deep river, vigorous and forceful.
From The Millionaire Baby by Green, Anna Katharine
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.
