effete

adjective

ef·fete e-ˈfēt How to pronounce effete (audio)

: no longer fertile

: having lost character, vitality, or strength

the effete monarchies … of feudal Europe

G. M. Trevelyan

… macrophages that recycle used iron from effete red cells.

Nancy C. Andrews

: marked by weakness or decadence

the effete East

: soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence

peddled … trendy tweeds to effete Easterners

William Helmer

effete tenderfeet

also : characteristic of an effete person

a wool scarf … a bit effete on an outdoorsman

Nelson Bryant

: effeminate sense 1

a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts

Herman Wouk

effetely adverb

effeteness noun

Did you know?

Effete derives from Latin effetus, meaning "no longer fruitful," and for a brief time in English it was used to describe an animal no longer capable of producing offspring. For most of its existence in English, however, the use of "effete" has been entirely figurative. For many years, the usual figurative sense of the word was "exhausted" or "worn out," but today "effete" is more likely to suggest overrefinement, weakness of character, snobbery, and effeminacy. "Effete" first showed signs of acquiring these shades of meaning in the 1920s, but it wasn't until the 1940s that the new "effete" clearly established itself in reputable writing. One example can be found in John Steinbeck's 1945 novel Cannery Row: "now and then some effete customer would order a stinger or an anisette."

Example Sentences

effete members of the aristocracy the soft, effete society that marked the final years of the Roman empire

Recent Examples on the Web The network was widely perceived as stuffy and effete.

Glenn Rifkin, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 The political orientations remain the same each time, which seems a bit trite—the effete lib having his soymobile rescued by some diesel-guzzling alpha.

Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Ruby’s brother, Jewel (James Anderson), is an effete, fretful, stay-at-home Christian fanatic, strumming his guitar in the kitchen all day, preaching dire prophecies, and threatening her with hellfire.

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2022 The addition of Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons, the hilariously effete and savage leader of a Jewish London gang, was a stroke of brilliance.

Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 10 June 2022 The guns were symbols of outdoorsmanship, both rugged and effete.

Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2022 The former investment banker is attacked both by Le Pen and his critics to the left as an effete figure ruling for the rich, disconnected from the concerns of ordinary French workers.

Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2022 Many West Pakistanis—particularly those in the military establishment—also regarded the Bengalis as racially inferior, dismissing them as effete and unmanly.

Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2022 Battling Butler: One of Buster Keaton’s biggest hits at the time, the silent film about a wealthy, effete young man who ends up forced to train as a boxer showcased Keaton’s signature physical humor as well as his ability as a director and editor.

Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Dec. 2021 See More

单词	effeteness
释义	effete adjective ef·fete e-ˈfēt i- 1 : no longer fertile 2 a : having lost character, vitality, or strength the effete monarchies … of feudal Europe G. M. Trevelyan … macrophages that recycle used iron from effete red cells. Nancy C. Andrews b : marked by weakness or decadence the effete East c : soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence peddled … trendy tweeds to effete Easterners William Helmer effete tenderfeet also : characteristic of an effete person a wool scarf … a bit effete on an outdoorsman Nelson Bryant 3 : effeminate sense 1 a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts Herman Wouk effetely adverb effeteness noun Did you know? Effete derives from Latin effetus, meaning "no longer fruitful," and for a brief time in English it was used to describe an animal no longer capable of producing offspring. For most of its existence in English, however, the use of "effete" has been entirely figurative. For many years, the usual figurative sense of the word was "exhausted" or "worn out," but today "effete" is more likely to suggest overrefinement, weakness of character, snobbery, and effeminacy. "Effete" first showed signs of acquiring these shades of meaning in the 1920s, but it wasn't until the 1940s that the new "effete" clearly established itself in reputable writing. One example can be found in John Steinbeck's 1945 novel Cannery Row: "now and then some effete customer would order a stinger or an anisette." Synonyms decadent decayed degenerate overripe washed-up See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences effete members of the aristocracy the soft, effete society that marked the final years of the Roman empire Recent Examples on the Web The network was widely perceived as stuffy and effete. Glenn Rifkin, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 The political orientations remain the same each time, which seems a bit trite—the effete lib having his soymobile rescued by some diesel-guzzling alpha. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Ruby’s brother, Jewel (James Anderson), is an effete, fretful, stay-at-home Christian fanatic, strumming his guitar in the kitchen all day, preaching dire prophecies, and threatening her with hellfire. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2022 The addition of Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons, the hilariously effete and savage leader of a Jewish London gang, was a stroke of brilliance. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 10 June 2022 The guns were symbols of outdoorsmanship, both rugged and effete. Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2022 The former investment banker is attacked both by Le Pen and his critics to the left as an effete figure ruling for the rich, disconnected from the concerns of ordinary French workers. Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2022 Many West Pakistanis—particularly those in the military establishment—also regarded the Bengalis as racially inferior, dismissing them as effete and unmanly. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2022 Battling Butler: One of Buster Keaton’s biggest hits at the time, the silent film about a wealthy, effete young man who ends up forced to train as a boxer showcased Keaton’s signature physical humor as well as his ability as a director and editor. Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Dec. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Latin effetus, from ex- + fetus fruitful — more at feminine First Known Use 1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1 effeteness noun 1 as in effeminacy Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance effeminacy femaleness girlishness femininity womanhood womanliness maidenhood feminity womanishness girlhood muliebrity Antonyms & Near Antonyms manliness masculinity manhood virility boyishness mannishness tomboyishness androgyny See More 2 as in softness Synonyms & Similar Words softness tenderness impotence helplessness powerlessness invalidism defenselessness lassitude weariness impuissance exhaustion incapacitation fatigue impairment disablement injury harm enervation feebleness decrepitude prostration decay languidness collapse damage languor debility hurt lowness faintness breakdown fragility wimpiness asthenia weakness listlessness enfeeblement debilitation infirmity frailty frailness delicacy Antonyms & Near Antonyms strength vigor robustness hardiness vitality hardihood virility energy muscularity huskiness lustiness fitness toughness hardness ruggedness sturdiness stoutness brawniness health soundness heftiness healthiness wellness See More
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effete

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun