51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

manly

[man-lee]

adjective

manlier, manliest 
  1. having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength or bravery.

    Antonyms: ,
  2. pertaining to or suitable for males.

    manly sports.



adverb

  1. Archaic.in a manly manner.

manly

/ ˈæԱɪ /

adjective

  1. possessing qualities, such as vigour or courage, generally regarded as appropriate to or typical of a man; masculine

  2. characteristic of or befitting a man

    a manly sport

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other 51Թ Forms

  • manliness noun
  • ˈԱԱ noun
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of manly1

before 900; Middle English (adj., adv.); Old English Աī (adj.), Աīe (adv.). See man, -ly
Discover More

Synonym Study

Manly, manful, mannish mean having the traits or qualities that a culture regards as especially characteristic of or ideally appropriate to adult men. Manly is usually a term of approval, suggesting traits admired by society, such as determination, decisiveness, and steadiness: a manly acceptance of the facts; manly firmness of character. Manful, also a term of approval, stresses qualities such as courage, strength, and fortitude: a manful effort to overcome great odds. Mannish is most often used derogatorily in reference to the traits, manners, or accouterments of a woman that are thought to be more appropriate to or typical of a man: a mannish abruptness in her speech; She wore a severely mannish suit. See also male.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But all share a view that men are the oppressed ones in our society, supposedly denied their ability to bro out and be their full manly selves.

From

The opposite, however, is what's happening: Trump's trade war is shutting down American factories that need foreign-sourced materials, as well as devastating other "manly" blue-collar jobs like truck driving and farming.

From

In fact, I think those gendered stereotypes — Americans as virile and manly; Europeans as emasculated or effeminate — go back much further than that, and were inhaled by nearly all American men of Trump’s generation.

From

He's always wanted a war so he could demonstrate his manly power to the world as a military leader but he is also a coward who would rather buy his way out of any jam.

From

It seems to make them feel very strong and manly.

From

Advertisement

Related 51Թs

Discover More

When To Use

What does manly mean?

Manly means having qualities traditionally associated with men, such as courage or strength.Manly is typically used to describe a man who has qualities (or who display qualities) that are generally considered to be characteristic of a man or manhood, as in He was dressed as a manly lumberjack with a thick beard and big muscles. It can also be used to describe things that involve, are intended for, are popular among, or are thought to be appropriate for men, as in My grandfather enjoyed manly hobbies like hunting.Of course, all of these associations are based on gender stereotypes that are often sexist and exclusionary. Manly implies qualities, attributes, and interests that are not exclusive to men, and that do not apply to every man. Anyone can be courageous and strong. Anyone can be good at and enjoy sports or outdoor activities. For these reasons, many people avoid using adjectives like manly and object to their use.Example: He calls himself a manly man who enjoys manly things like powerlifting and beef stew.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


man lockman-made