emasculate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "emasculate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing the act of depriving a man of his male role or identity, often in a metaphorical sense related to power or authority. Example: "The constant criticism from his peers began to emasculate him, making him doubt his abilities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some men are reluctant to accept a movement that they, wrongly, assume will emasculate them.

The Guardian

Partly to emasculate Jobbik, Orbán keeps stoking nationalist passions, while confronting his critics with the claim that he is merely carrying out the united people's will to establish a new "social contract" and a "system of national unity".

The Guardian - Opinion

So the Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard divisions concentrated in and around the capital will have one eye on, among others, the potentially seditious Shias of Baghdad.If it comes to a battle for the city, allied forces would try to seize key sites and arteries and so emasculate Mr Hussein's regime relatively bloodlessly.

The Economist

NO SOONER had he been elected French president in 2007 than Nicolas Sarkozy began to emasculate the opposition.

The Economist

"The message it would send to the Muslim community is that the government is trying to emasculate their religion and its leading lights," says Inayat Bunglawala, of the Muslim Council of Britain, an influential umbrella group.Any prominent Muslim who is close to the government when such a row erupts is likely to suffer burnt fingers.

The Economist

The country is unlikely to thank the Lib Dems if they choose to emasculate the government but it might eventually reward both parts of the coalition for shaping a more efficient and responsive state.Cruel to be kindFor his part, in the intangible but crucial matter of demeanour, Mr Cameron has fit the office of prime minister in a way that Gordon Brown, his immediate predecessor, never did.

The Economist

Worse, legislation is in hand that would effectively emasculate Italy's independent energy regulator.

The Economist

They believe that many unionists have never had any intention of sharing power, and are using decommissioning either to break the peace deal, or to emasculate the republican movement.Neither set of fears can be dismissed as ridiculous.

The Economist

This week some 6,000 of them descended on Paris for their annual congress, jeering a speech by François Fillon, the prime minister, and denouncing an effort to emasculate local power.With their ceremonial sashes and grand town halls in even the remotest village, mayors occupy a special place in French life.

The Economist

To be pro-American for long would emasculate.

The Economist

But he has plainly failed to emasculate Mr Haider.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "emasculate" metaphorically, ensure the context clearly relates to a reduction of power, influence, or effectiveness, avoiding unintended gender-specific connotations. Consider your audience and the potential for misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "emasculate" in situations where the loss of power or effectiveness isn't directly tied to a traditional masculine role or identity. Opt for more neutral terms like "weaken" or "undermine" to prevent alienating readers or introducing unintended bias.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "emasculate" is a transitive verb. It signifies the act of depriving someone or something of power, strength, or effectiveness. As Ludwig shows, it is frequently used in news articles and encyclopedic entries to describe weakening entities such as political movements or governmental bodies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "emasculate" functions as a transitive verb denoting the act of depriving someone or something of power, strength, or effectiveness. Ludwig's analysis indicates that this term is grammatically correct and very common, with primary usage contexts in news and media. The analysis of Ludwig, the AI tool, emphasizes its presence in reputable sources, resulting in a high source quality score. While it can add impact to writing, it's important to consider context and potential connotations to ensure appropriate and unbiased communication. Alternative phrases like "weaken" or "undermine" can be helpful when a more neutral tone is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

castrate

This is a more literal synonym, referring to the physical act of removing reproductive ability or, metaphorically, severely weakening.

render powerless

This phrase directly conveys the act of depriving someone of power, mirroring a key aspect of emasculation.

strip of authority

Focuses on the removal of formal power or control, similar to emasculation's impact on one's perceived or actual influence.

render ineffective

Focuses on making something unable to produce the desired result, similar to how emasculation can negate effectiveness.

weaken

This alternative conveys a general reduction in strength or effectiveness, similar to emasculating but less specific to male virility or power.

undermine

This suggests a gradual erosion of power or authority, often through subtle or indirect means, akin to metaphorically emasculating someone's position.

diminish in stature

Highlights a reduction in reputation or importance, akin to how emasculation can lessen one's standing.

neutralize

This implies rendering something ineffective or harmless, paralleling the effect of emasculation in stripping away potency.

sap the strength of

This conveys a gradual draining of energy or power, aligning with the weakening effect of emasculation.

debilitate

This refers to weakening or impairing, often due to illness or injury, which can metaphorically relate to emasculation by reducing overall capability.

FAQs

How can "emasculate" be used in a sentence?

You can use "emasculate" to describe depriving someone of power or effectiveness, as in "The new regulations will "emasculate" the authority of the local council."

What are some alternatives to using "emasculate"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "emasculate" include "weaken", "undermine", or "neutralize". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "emasculate" in a professional setting?

While grammatically correct, "emasculate" can be a strong and potentially loaded term. Consider the formality of your setting and whether a more neutral term like "diminish" or "reduce" would be more suitable.

What does it mean to "emasculate" an argument?

To "emasculate" an argument means to weaken it significantly, often by removing its most compelling points or undermining its validity. In this context, it's similar to saying the argument has been "invalidated" or "debilitated".