People describe a woman's behaviour, character, or appearance as womanly when they like it because they think it is typical of, or suitable for, a woman rather than a man or girl.
[approval]
She had a classical, womanly shape.
...womanly tenderness.
More Synonyms of womanly
womanly in British English
(ˈwʊmənlɪ)
adjective
1.
possessing qualities, such as warmth, attractiveness, etc, generally regarded as typical of a woman, esp a mature woman
2.
characteristic of or belonging to a woman
Derived forms
womanliness (ˈwomanliness)
noun
womanly in American English
(ˈwʊmənli)
adjective
1.
like a woman; womanish
2.
characteristic of or fit for a woman; womanlike
adverb
3. Archaic
in a womanly manner
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfeˌmale
Derived forms
womanliness (ˈwomanliness)
noun
Examples of 'womanly' in a sentence
womanly
She goes to designers who know how to flatter a womanly figure.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I have curves and a womanly figure.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A womanly figure needs more support than this offers.
The Sun (2013)
I have a womanly body so they've made me feel in proportion.
The Sun (2011)
She says: 'They looked so womanly and their figures seemed balanced.
The Sun (2014)
I have a womanly shape.
The Sun (2011)
1 (adjective)
Definition
possessing qualities generally regarded as typical of, or appropriate to, a woman
the womanly virtues so valued by nineteenth-century European society
Synonyms
feminine
traditional expectations of feminine behaviour
motherly
a kind, motherly woman
female
matronly
ladylike
2 (adjective)
a womanly figure
Synonyms
curvaceous (informal)
a curvaceous figure
ample
voluptuous
a voluptuous, well-rounded woman with glossy red hair
shapely
her shapely legs
curvy (informal)
busty (informal)
buxom
She looked radiant and buxom.
full-figured
Rubenesque
Junoesque
Additional synonyms
in the sense of buxom
Definition
(of a woman) healthily plump, attractive, and full-bosomed
She looked radiant and buxom.
Synonyms
plump,
ample,
voluptuous,
busty,
well-rounded,
curvaceous (informal),
comely (old-fashioned),
bosomy,
full-bosomed
in the sense of motherly
a kind, motherly woman
Synonyms
maternal,
loving,
kind,
caring,
warm,
comforting,
sheltering,
gentle,
tender,
protective,
fond,
affectionate
in the sense of shapely
Definition
(esp. of a woman's body or legs) pleasing or attractive in shape
her shapely legs
Synonyms
well-formed,
elegant,
trim,
neat,
graceful,
well-turned,
curvaceous (informal),
sightly,
comely (old-fashioned),
well-proportioned
Nearby words of
womanly
womanhood
womanizer
womankind
womanly
womb
wonder
wonderful
Synonyms of 'womanly'
womanly
Explore 'womanly' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of voluptuous
Definition
(of a woman) sexually alluring because of the fullness of her figure
a voluptuous, well-rounded woman with glossy red hair