It is not manly to speak ill of others behind their backs.
Source: tatoeba (274713)
Manly
/ˈmænli/
Synonyms for "manly" (125 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (25)
Strong matches (38)
full of integritygallantgentlemanlikegentlemanlygoodgreatheartedgutsyhardyheroicherolikehigh principledhigh-mindedhigh-principledhighly respectablehonesthonorableimmaculateintrepidinviolateironhearted
Show 12 more words
Adverb(1 words)
Related words (62)
manlikemannishmasculinemoralmulenoblepluckyprincipledpurered-bloodedreputableresoluterespectablerightright mindedright-mindedrighteoussoldierlikesoldierlyspotless
Show 39 more words
stablestainlessstalwartsteadfaststerlingstoutstoutheartedtoughtrue-dealingtrue-devotedtrue-disposingtrue-souledtrue-spiritedtrueheartedunafraidunblemisheduncorruptuncorruptedundauntedundefileduneffeminateunflinchingunimpeachableunshrinkingunspottedunstainedunsullieduntarnishedunwaveringuprightuprighteousupstandingvaliantvalorousventuresomevirilevirtuousworthyyeomanly
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: manlike, virile, andric, blameless, bold.
- Sentence evidence is available for manly, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "manly".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "manly"
Keep "manly" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "manly" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "manly", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "manly" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
8 entriesCollocations
10 entriesact manlyin a manly waymanly appearancemanly couragemanly demeanormanly mannermanly physiquemanly virtuemove manlyspeak manly
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
16 translations across 15 languages.
Bengali
1 entries- মরদ adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Bulgarian
1 entries- мъжествен adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Catalan
2 entries- masculí adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
- viril adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Czech
1 entries- mužný adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Danish
1 entries- mandig adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Finnish
1 entries- miehekäs adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Irish
1 entries- fearúil adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Latin
1 entries- virilis adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Middle English
1 entries- manly adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Māori
1 entries- taitoa adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Norwegian Bokmål
1 entries- mandig adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Ottoman Turkish
1 entries- مردانه adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Romanian
1 entries- bărbătos adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Slovak
1 entries- mužný adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Spanish
1 entries- viril adj (having the qualities of a man such as courage)
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
He is a silent, manly boy.
Source: tatoeba (303975)
Women are systematically degraded by receiving the trivial attentions which men think it manly to pay to the sex, when, in fact, men are insultingly supporting their own superiority.
Source: tatoeba (413864)
You are a manly man!
Source: tatoeba (1189436)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "manly"?
Closest matches include manlike, virile, andric, blameless, bold.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "manly"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.