effeteness
Worn-out soft weakness
Effeteness is the quality of being effete—exhausted of vitality, worn out, or decadent.
The word often describes weakness resulting from overrefinement or excessive luxury: the effeteness of a dying aristocracy.
It can suggest soft, unmasculine qualities when applied to men, carrying connotations of fussy overcivilization: He mocked what he saw as the effeteness of East Coast intellectuals.
Lack of strength
- impotenceLack of strength or power
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- ineffectualityInability to produce results
- debilityImpaired strength or vitality
frailty · infirmity · enfeeblement · incapacity · helplessness · inadequacy · ineffectiveness · uselessness
Gradual organic breakdown
- declineDecrease or refuse
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- degenerationProgressive loss of function
- degradationDecline in condition
dissolution · withering · fading · waning · atrophy · enervation · senescence · overripeness
Excessive attention to detail
- preciousnessQuality of being treasured
- affectationArtificial behavior for effect
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- fastidiousnessExcessive concern for precision
fussiness · primness · daintiness · sophistication · preciosity · mannerism · pretension · artificiality
feebleness
Lack of strength
- impotenceLack of strength or power
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- ineffectualityInability to produce results
debility · frailty · infirmity · enfeeblement · incapacity · helplessness · inadequacy · ineffectiveness · uselessness · futility
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- declineDecrease or refuse
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- degenerationProgressive loss of function
degradation · dissolution · withering · fading · waning · atrophy · enervation · senescence · overripeness · corruption
overrefinement
Excessive attention to detail
- preciousnessQuality of being treasured
- affectationArtificial behavior for effect
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
fastidiousness · fussiness · primness · daintiness · sophistication · preciosity · mannerism · pretension · artificiality · aestheticism
effetenessvigor
Active physical strength
vitality · robustness · virility · strength · hardiness
effetenessmasculinity
Male gender characteristics
manliness · virility · ruggedness · machismo · toughness