Synonyms for feminine
- adjective
Definitions
- adj. 1
Of or pertaining to the female sex; biologically female, not male.
- adj. 2
Of or pertaining to the female gender.
Related words
- Word family
- feminineness femininity femininize feminize female
- Is a kind of
- guise
Choose the right word
We apply female to the sex, feminine to the qualities, especially the finer physical or mental qualities that distinguish the female sex in the human family, or to the objects appropriate for or especially employed by them. A female voice is the voice of a woman; a feminine voice may belong to a man.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- female His movies often feature strong female characters.
- effeminate Sato's high voice and mannerisms are pretty effeminate.
- womanly Shake hands like a man. This is a rather womanly grip.
- femme Fadil couldn't take his eyes off the teenage femme fatale.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| feminine | rising | |
| female | rising | |
| effeminate | rising | |
| womanly | rising | |
| matronly | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- soft1
- 5 letters
- girly, femme1
- 6 letters
- female2, beauty2, sexual3, caring2, tender2
- 7 letters
- womanly, girlish2, distaff, unmanly
- 8 letters
- delicate3, matronly3, womanish, maidenly
- 9 letters
- nurturing3, womanlike
- 10 letters
- effeminate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (female2 = 2 syllables).