as in maleness
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of men some men believe that wearing pink would undermine their masculinity

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of masculinity Doctors prescribe it to ease symptoms of testosterone deficiency — among them weight gain, muscle loss and depression — but dubious clinics also sell the therapy as a cure-all for a crisis of masculinity. The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 Over the four episodes, viewers get a firsthand look at what can happen when a teenager is indoctrinated with toxic messages about masculinity. Samantha Mann, Parents, 8 Apr. 2025 The Netflix series delves into the pressures that young men face in a world of toxic masculinity and social media. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025 Normalizing emotional vulnerability and seeking help among men without fear of judgment or loss of masculinity is an essential step in reframing the conversation. Essence, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for masculinity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masculinity
Noun
  • The intersection of toxic masculinity (i.e., loss of their virginity is a rite of passage into manhood) and adultification (i.e., viewing and treating Black boys as men) perpetuates early sexualization and hypersexualization of Black boys.
    Essence, Essence, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The 29-year-old original poster (OP) described on Reddit this week a family gathering where her three brothers—who view physical dominance as a key measure of manhood—challenged him to a wrestling match after making dismissive remarks about his masculinity.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • 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, Essence, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But before then, they were exclusively worn by men and were a sign of virility and high social status.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Tom Cruise, that avatar of all-American virility, opened the evening with an address that reaffirmed the rightness of the proceedings, much as Peck had in 1968.
    Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • By comparison, even peers like Iggy or Lou Reed were willing to fall back on tough-guy machismo when addressing women, in ways that Johansen had absolutely no use for.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Instead of using this opportunity to make Bond a more inclusive franchise, Bezos could very well lean into the franchise’s outmoded machismo, returning Bond to an aggressive womanizer and pillar of a brand of masculinity that aligns with the values of the far right.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Masculinity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masculinity. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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