as in male
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men
men were once expected to be interested only in such virile activities as hunting
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of virile
While a tabloid scandal and a terrorist plot don’t seem like fuel for a winning Oscar campaign, all of it contributed to Crowe’s image as a throwback to the days when Hollywood leading men were virile and larger than life.
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Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
And John himself is a strong, virile man willing to take control of any situation.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024
As Henry, Damien Lewis is especially virile if privately conflicted and a sentimental drunk.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 18 June 2024
Pitt’s sculpted physique remains a fitness ideal, and his virile performance is worshiped by pickup artists and incels.
—Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for virile
Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
And John himself is a strong, virile man willing to take control of any situation.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024
As Henry, Damien Lewis is especially virile if privately conflicted and a sentimental drunk.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 18 June 2024
Pitt’s sculpted physique remains a fitness ideal, and his virile performance is worshiped by pickup artists and incels.
—Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for virile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virile
Adjective
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There’s a sad irony here: the radiant plumage of the male lyrebird – evolved to increase its mating opportunities with female lyrebirds – nearly led to its demise due to demand from humans who wanted to use it for more or less the same evolutionary reason.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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But the Parisian art scene remained a heavily male milieu in which Lijn, as a young woman, often felt dismissed.—
Marina Isgro,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
Adjective
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Levant encouraged men to take this time to think about masculine ideologies they were taught at a young age and be open to expressing vulnerability more genuinely.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
21 May 2025
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Plus, there’s plenty to dissect about how much the show was about the masculine fantasies of the War on Terror.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Virile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virile. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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