womanish
womanish Lexical Profile
womanish Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Considered unsuitable for a man or having qualities stereotypically associated with women, especially weakness or timidity; effeminate (used derogatorily).
"In the play, the general mocks his rival's hesitation as a womanish display of fear."
Characteristic of or suitable for an adult woman rather than a girl (often used in African American vernacular and literary traditions, forming the basis for the term 'womanist').
"The young girl spoke with a bold, womanish confidence that surprised her elders."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'womanly' is used positively to praise mature female qualities, 'womanish' is almost exclusively pejorative, used either to criticize a man for perceived effeminacy or to demean stereotypical female weaknesses.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English (around the late 14th century) from the noun 'woman' plus the suffix '-ish'.