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Definition of "emasculate" [e•mas•cu•late]

  • To castrate. (verb-transitive)
  • To deprive of strength or vigor; weaken. (verb-transitive)
  • Deprived of virility, strength, or vigor. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "emasculate" in a sentence
  • "He criticised central government for seeking to "emasculate" the Zulu Kingdom by reducing it to an administrative centre with no political power."
  • "Buthelezi called on his supporters to resist the ANC-led central government, which he claimed was trying to "emasculate" KwaZulu-Natal, which is controlled by the IFP."
  • "When a woman rules, peace is "emasculate"; when a man rules, peace is "glorious"!"