unfeminine
Lacking traditional femininity
Unfeminine describes qualities, behaviors, or appearances considered contrary to traditional expectations of women.
The term assumes a baseline of what feminine means—typically softness, grace, nurturing—and marks departures from it: Her unfeminine laugh startled the room.
What counts as unfeminine varies by culture and era; the word often carries implicit judgment about how women should present themselves.
Breaching feminine propriety norms
rough · uncouth · indelicate · unrefined · improper · tomboyish · brash · crass
Neither distinctly male nor female
- genderlessHaving no sex distinction
- unisexSuitable for any gender
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- gender-neutralWithout sex distinction
ambiguous · tomboyish · gender-nonconforming · genderqueer · agender · gender-fluid · neutral · unsexed
Lacking decoration or ornament
- plainBasic and unremarkable
- unkemptUntidy in appearance
- disheveledUntidy in appearance
- unstyledWithout decorative arrangement
unpolished · ungroomed · dowdy · frumpy · unembellished · severe · austere · practical
Having well-developed sinews
- athleticPhysically strong and active
- brawnyPhysically powerful, well-muscled
- burlyHeavily muscled and broad
- sturdySolidly built, durable
strapping · rugged · tough · broad-shouldered · stocky · sinewy · powerful · strong
Fearless readiness to act
- directnessQuality of being straightforward
- forcefulnessPowerful assertive quality
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
bluntness · brusqueness · outspokenness · brashness · loudness · boisterousness · abrasiveness · gruffness
unladylike
Breaching feminine propriety norms
rowdy · rough · uncouth · indelicate · unrefined · improper · tomboyish · brash · crass · unmannered
androgynous
Neither distinctly male nor female
- genderlessHaving no sex distinction
- unisexSuitable for any gender
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
gender-neutral · ambiguous · tomboyish · gender-nonconforming · genderqueer · agender · gender-fluid · neutral · unsexed · androgyne
unadorned
Lacking decoration or ornament
- plainBasic and unremarkable
- unkemptUntidy in appearance
- disheveledUntidy in appearance
unstyled · unpolished · ungroomed · dowdy · frumpy · unembellished · severe · austere · practical · short-haired
muscular
Having well-developed sinews
- athleticPhysically strong and active
- brawnyPhysically powerful, well-muscled
- burlyHeavily muscled and broad
sturdy · strapping · rugged · tough · broad-shouldered · stocky · sinewy · powerful · strong · hulking
boldness
Fearless readiness to act
- directnessQuality of being straightforward
- forcefulnessPowerful assertive quality
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
aggression · bluntness · brusqueness · outspokenness · brashness · loudness · boisterousness · abrasiveness · gruffness · curtness
feminine, femininity, effeminate, effeminacy, feminize, femininely, feminization