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 Not content to battle it out in the boardroom, crypto bros, tech executives and start-up founders have embraced an old-fashioned version of masculinity. Ben Hubbard Saumya Khandelwal Matthew Defeo W.j. Hennigan, New York Times, 15 May 2025 On The Sea is a beautiful, sensual and at times, tragic exploration of masculinity, place and desire. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 May 2025 His style challenged hip-hop’s masculinity norms while expanding its imagination for future dandy’s like Tyler, Doechii, and A$AP Rocky to follow. Essence, 5 May 2025 The Unhealthy Balance in Men’s Health Erectile dysfunction has been and continues to be an incredibly delicate issue for many men, primarily because of the ways in which it is wrapped up in the concept of masculinity. William Jones, USA Today, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for masculinity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masculinity
Noun
  • To imagine a version of manhood where strength requires empathy, vulnerability, and care.
    Reshma Saujani, Time, 19 May 2025
  • This truth is at the heart of Adolescence, Netflix’s new drama by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham—an impeccable, if harrowing, exploration of the trepidatious transition of boyhood to manhood and the ultimate radicalization of a schoolboy.
    Raven Smith, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • There's a true earthy manliness that's really f---ing raw and awesome.
    Yolanda Machado, EW.com, 30 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • Oysters have been associated with sensuality and virility for centuries.
    Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • There is a sense that her interest hinges up his machismo and his job title, and (sadly) the show has barely bothered to give her more character than that.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 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 4 Jun. 2025.

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