SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
effete
adjective
Weakened or depleted to the point of ineffectiveness.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
CHOOSE WITH CARE
A useful distinction
The intended meaning concerns depleted vigor or effectiveness. Other historical uses can be disparaging; they are not interchangeable with this sense.
Weakened or depleted to the point of ineffectiveness
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThe intended meaning concerns depleted vigor or effectiveness. Other historical uses can be disparaging; they are not interchangeable with this sense.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See effete in use
The satire portrays an effete ruling class unable to respond to change.
The once vigorous institution had become effete.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license