unman

unman — verb

  • unmanpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • unmans3rd person singular
  • unmanning-ing form
  • unmannedpast simple

1. to make someone suddenly lose their confidence, courage, or emotional self-contr

1.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to make someone suddenly lose their confidence, courage, or emotional self-control, leaving them feeling weak or helpless — for example, being unmanned by terrible news, harsh criticism, or a traumatic event.

Example

The critic's cruel review completely unmanned Stefan, and he stopped writing for months.

unmanned + by [negative experience]

Even battle-hardened soldiers can be unmanned by the cries of wounded children.

passive: can be unmanned by [tragedy]

Common collocations
  • completely unmanned
  • utterly unmanned
  • unmanned by grief
  • unmanned by fear
  • unmanned by the sight
Synonyms
  • unnerve

    weaker and more common; implies temporary nervousness rather than total collapse of composure

  • dishearten

    focuses on loss of hope or motivation rather than courage or emotional control

  • demoralize

    often used for groups (teams, armies); emphasises loss of fighting spirit

  • emasculate

    more metaphorical; implies a blow to one's sense of power or masculinity specifically

Antonyms
  • embolden

    to give someone courage or confidence

  • hearten

    to make someone feel more hopeful or encouraged

Grammar Patterns

unman + noun phrase

be unmanned + by + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice (be unmanned by). The cause is usually a traumatic experience, harsh words, or overwhelming circumstances rather than a person. Literary or formal register; almost never used in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

The loud noise unmanned him for a moment.
The news of the accident completely unmanned him, and he wept openly.
unman describes a deep emotional or psychological blow, not a brief physical shock.
The exam questions unmanned me.
The hostile questions from the reporters completely unmanned the politician.
unman is too strong and too formal for everyday setbacks; reserve it for genuinely devastating or humiliating experiences.

2. to remove the testicles of a male animal, typically in order to make it calmer o

2.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to remove the testicles of a male animal, typically in order to make it calmer or to prevent breeding.

Example

The farmer asked the veterinarian to unman the young bull before the breeding season.

collocation: unman + [male livestock animal]

In some rural areas, male livestock are unmanned to make them easier to handle.

passive: are unmanned

Common collocations
  • unman the bull
  • unman the stallion
  • unman the colt
  • unman the piglet
Synonyms
  • castrate

    the modern standard term; used for both animals and humans in medical contexts

  • neuter

    broader — can apply to both male and female animals; most common in everyday veterinary use

  • geld

    specific to horses; technical term used by equestrian professionals

Grammar Patterns

unman + noun phrase (animal)

be unmanned + by + noun phrase (veterinarian)

Usage Note

This sense is historically older and has been largely replaced by neuter or castrate in modern English. Primarily encountered in historical texts or technical writing about animal husbandry from earlier periods.

Common Mistakes

The vet will unman our dog next week.
The vet will neuter our dog next week.
unman sounds archaic and unnatural for domestic pets; use neuter or castrate.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe a blow to a person's inner strength, but they differ in intensity and focus. Unnerve is the mildest — it suggests short-lived nervousness or loss of composure ("the loud bang unnerved the dog"). Dishearten focuses on lost hope: you are disheartened when a plan fails or a goal seems unreachable. Demoralize is stronger and often collective — a team or army that has lost all spirit and discipline is demoralized. Unman is the most intense and the rarest; it implies a complete, devastating collapse of emotional fortitude, as if the person has been stripped of their very capacity to cope. Emasculate is close but more specific, targeting a person's sense of power or masculine identity. A critic's review might unman a writer (shattering his confidence entirely) but merely dishearten a student (making her feel her work was not good enough).

unnerve ↗dishearten ↗demoralize ↗emasculate ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed in English around the 16th century from the prefix un- (meaning 'not' or 'reverse the action') + man (an adult male human). The original sense was 'to deprive of the qualities expected of a man, especially courage and fortitude.' The literal sense of 'castrate' developed shortly afterward and was common in agricultural writing for several centuries. Both senses are now rare and considered formal or literary.

First known use

1599

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1