womanly
[ woom-uhn-lee ]
/ ˈwʊm ən li /
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adjective
like or befitting a woman; feminine; not masculine or girlish.
adverb
in the manner of, or befitting, a woman.
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synonym study for womanly
2. Womanly, womanlike, womanish mean having the traits or qualities that a culture regards as especially characteristic of or ideally appropriate to adult women. Womanly is usually a term of approval, suggesting the display of traits admired by the society, such as self-possession, modesty, motherliness, and calm competence: a womanly consideration for others; with womanly skill and efficiency. Womanlike may be a neutral synonym for womanly, or it may suggest mild disapproval: a womanlike dignity; womanlike tears and recriminations. Womanish is usually disparaging; applied to women it suggests traits not generally socially approved: a womanish petulance; womanish disregard for the rules. Applied to men it suggests traits culturally deemed inappropriate for men and (in what is now often regarded as a sexist notion) to be found in women: a womanish shrillness in his speech; a womanish way of stamping his foot in anger. See also female.
OTHER WORDS FROM womanly
wom·an·li·ness, wom·an·ness, nounhalf-wom·an·ly, adjectiveun·wom·an·ly, adjective, adverbWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH womanly
effeminate, effete, feminine, womanish, womanly (see synonym study at the current entry)Words nearby womanly
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for womanly
British Dictionary definitions for womanly
womanly
/ (ˈwʊmənlɪ) /
adjective
possessing qualities, such as warmth, attractiveness, etc, generally regarded as typical of a woman, esp a mature woman
characteristic of or belonging to a woman
Derived forms of womanly
womanliness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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