If you describe a boy's or man's behaviour as unmanly, you are critical of the fact that they are behaving in a way that you think is inappropriate for a man.
[disapproval]
Your partner can feel the loss as acutely as you, but may feel that it is unmanlyto cry.
Synonyms: effeminate, soft [informal], weak, feeble More Synonyms of unmanly
More Synonyms of unmanly
unmanly in British English
(ʌnˈmænlɪ)
adjective
1.
not masculine or virile
2.
ignoble, cowardly, or dishonourable
Derived forms
unmanliness (unˈmanliness)
noun
unmanly in American English
(ʌnˈmænli)
adjectiveWord forms: unˈmanlier or unˈmanliest
not manly
; specif.,
a.
lacking courage, resoluteness, etc.; cowardly, weak, etc.
b.
not befitting a man; effeminate; womanish
Derived forms
unmanliness (unˈmanliness)
noun
Examples of 'unmanly' in a sentence
unmanly
His teeth were gritted, his body locked, as though he were only just holding back an unmanly scream.
Clive Barker COLDHEART CANYON (2001)
They did not cosset their womenfolk and they considered those who did so to be unmanly.
Martin, Joy THE IMAGE OF LAURA (2001)
1 (adjective)
Definition
not masculine or virile
The idea that crying is `unmanly' stunts emotional development.
Synonyms
effeminate
I have some effeminate mannerisms but am quite confident in my masculinity.
soft (informal)
weak
He managed a weak smile and said, `Don't worry about me.'
feeble
This is a feeble argument.
womanish
2 (adjective)
Definition
cowardly or dishonourable
Synonyms
cowardly
I was too cowardly to complain.
yellow (informal)
You yellow dogs!
craven
a craven need to please
abject
an abject traitor
dishonourable
He insisted he had done nothing dishonourable.
ignoble
an ignoble episode from their country's past
weak-kneed (informal)
chicken-hearted
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abject
an abject traitor
Synonyms
despicable,
base,
degraded,
worthless,
vile,
sordid,
debased,
reprehensible,
ignominious,
contemptible,
dishonourable,
ignoble,
detestable,
scungy (Australian, New Zealand)
in the sense of craven
Definition
cowardly
a craven need to please
Synonyms
cowardly,
weak,
scared,
fearful,
abject,
dastardly (old-fashioned),
mean-spirited,
timorous (literary),
pusillanimous (formal),
chickenshit (US, slang),
caitiff (archaic),
chicken-hearted,
yellow (informal),
lily-livered,
niddering (archaic)
in the sense of dishonourable
He insisted he had done nothing dishonourable.
Synonyms
shameful,
base,
corrupt,
infamous,
disgraceful,
treacherous,
scandalous,
unscrupulous,
shameless,
despicable,
ignominious,
disreputable,
contemptible,
untrustworthy,
unprincipled,
ignoble,
not cricket (informal),
discreditable,
blackguardly
Nearby words of
unmanly
unlucky
unman
unmanageable
unmanly
unmannerly
unmarried
unmask
Synonyms of 'unmanly'
unmanly
Explore 'unmanly' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of feeble
Definition
not effective or convincing
This is a feeble argument.
Synonyms
unconvincing,
poor,
thin,
weak,
slight,
tame,
pathetic,
lame,
flimsy,
paltry,
flat
in the sense of ignoble
Definition
dishonourable
an ignoble episode from their country's past
Synonyms
dishonourable,
low,
base,
mean,
petty,
infamous,
degraded,
craven,
disgraceful,
shabby,
vile,
degenerate,
abject,
unworthy,
shameless,
despicable,
heinous,
dastardly (old-fashioned),
contemptible,
wretched
in the sense of soft
Definition
not strong or able to endure hardship
Synonyms
out of condition,
weak,
limp,
pampered,
flabby,
flaccid,
podgy,
out of training,
namby-pamby,
overindulged
in the sense of weak
He managed a weak smile and said, `Don't worry about me.'