manliness

noun

man·​li·​ness ˈman-lē-nəs 

: the quality or state of being manly (as by having qualities such as strength or virility that are traditionally associated with a man)

They'd been trained to identify emotional repression as the essence of manliness. Men who broke down, or cried, or admitted to feeling fear, were sissies, weaklings, failures. Not men.

—Pat Barker

… the angular manliness of her gestures …

—John Colapinto

Synonyms

• machismo
• macho
• manhood
• masculinity
• virility

Examples of manliness in a Sentence

studio executives wondered if the actor possessed the manliness expected in an action hero

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the most famous of the walkers was Edward Payton Weston, whose many ultra-walks touted a mix of sensationalism, spectacle, manliness, and health. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2025

Some believe that this practice ensures boys remain heterosexual and promotes manliness. —Essence, 22 Mar. 2025

This revelation reframes much of the earlier novel, from his paranoia to his discomfort in stiff formal clothing to his father’s obsession with manliness. —Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024

But there are challenges for shifting diets toward less beef, from misinformation about soy and protein, to social stigmas connecting beef-eating with manliness. —Julia Simon, NPR, 15 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English manlynesse, from manli, manly manly entry 2 + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above