Synonyms of emasculate

emasculate

verb

i-ˈma-skyə-ˌlāt 

as in to paralyze

to deprive of courage or confidence

being eliminated early in one's very first tennis tournament can be an emasculating experience

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paralyze
• intimidate
• frighten
• terrify
• scare
• demoralize
• unsettle
• unnerve
• unman
• undo
• weaken
• debilitate
• discourage
• neuter
• enfeeble
• terrorize
• soften
• enervate
• unstring
• waste
• disturb
• dishearten
• dispirit
• sap
• upset
• daunt
• perturb
• unhinge
• unbalance
• psych (out)
• prostrate
• derange
• tire
• faze
• dismay
• disquiet
• discompose
• craze
• madden
• weird out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nerve
• strengthen
• encourage
• fortify
• embolden
• hearten

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb emasculate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of emasculate are enervate, unman, and unnerve. While all these words mean "to deprive of strength or vigor and the capacity for effective action," emasculate stresses a depriving of characteristic force by removing something essential.

an amendment that emasculates existing safeguards

When is it sensible to use enervate instead of emasculate?

While the synonyms enervate and emasculate are close in meaning, enervate suggests a gradual physical or moral weakening (as through luxury or indolence) until one is too feeble to make an effort.

a nation's youth enervated by affluence and leisure

When is unman a more appropriate choice than emasculate?

Although the words unman and emasculate have much in common, unman implies a loss of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit.

a soldier unmanned by the terrors of battle

In what contexts can unnerve take the place of emasculate?

The meanings of unnerve and emasculate largely overlap; however, unnerve implies marked often temporary loss of courage, self-control, or power to act.

unnerved by the near collision

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of emasculate

Women in these relationships were cast as disruptors of traditional gender roles, while men in these relationships were portrayed as emasculated. —Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

Adrift and emasculated, Stan is less a patriarch than the defeated captain of a sinking ship, drowning in his futility. —Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025

After a whole season of crying about being emasculated! —Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025

There are no good statistics documenting this problem but, according to the sociologist Sanjay Srivastava, in many parts of North India, higher-caste men rape lower-caste women to emasculate lower-caste men. —Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2014