Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
manly [man-lee] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin adjective, man·li·er, man·li·est.
- having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength or bravery.
- pertaining to or suitable for males: manly sports.
adverb
- Archaic. in a manly manner.
Origin of manly before 900; Middle English (adj., adv.); Old English manlīc (adj.), manlīce (adv.). See man1, -ly Related formsman·li·ness, nounSynonyms for manly Manly, manful, mannish mean having the traits or qualities that a culture regards as especially characteristic of or ideally appropriate to adult men. Manly is usually a term of approval, suggesting traits admired by society, such as determination, decisiveness, and steadiness: a manly acceptance of the facts; manly firmness of character. Manful, also a term of approval, stresses qualities such as courage, strength, and fortitude: a manful effort to overcome great odds. Mannish is most often used derogatorily in reference to the traits, manners, or accouterments of a woman that are thought to be more appropriate to or typical of a man: a mannish abruptness in her speech; She wore a severely mannish suit. See also male.Antonyms for manly 1. weak, cowardly. Related Words for manliest noble, vigorous, bold, masculine, virile, macho, self-reliant, heroic, manlike, manful, audacious, brave, colt, confident, daring, dauntless, dignified, fearless, firm, gallant Examples from the Web for manliest Contemporary Examples of manliest
Then Dustykatt, the manliest Brony in the world, drinks a beer.
Inside the Bizarre World of ‘Bronies,’ Adult Male Fans of ‘My Little Pony’
Kevin Fallon
May 1, 2014
Dawson was the manliest of these men, and to show it, he often smoked right there on stage.
A Kiss Goodbye to Richard Dawson
Rebecca Dana
June 4, 2012
Historical Examples of manliest
The honor of a scout will not permit of anything but the highest and the best and the manliest.
Boy Scouts of America
Is it not the wisest, the manliest course, to accept the inevitable?
George S. Merriam
There was once a King, and he had a Queen; and he was the manliest of his sex, and she was the loveliest of hers.
Charles Dickens
He looks like a glad thankful child, and he has the manliest of faces.
George Meredith
It is one of the wisest, the manliest, and most serviceable I ever read.
The Letters of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
British Dictionary definitions for manliest manly adjective -lier or -liest
- possessing qualities, such as vigour or courage, generally regarded as appropriate to or typical of a man; masculine
- characteristic of or befitting a mana manly sport
Derived Formsmanliness, noun Word Origin and History for manliest manly adj.
c.1200, “human; characteristic of human beings,” from man (n.) + -ly (1). Sense of “possessing virtues proper to a male person” (resoluteness, steadfastness, reliability) is from early 13c. Meaning “masculine” is attested from late 14c. Old English had werlic “male, masculine, manly.”