mansplaining
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for mansplaining, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of a man explaining something to a woman in a condescending way, typically assuming she knows less about it than she does.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun informal
The act of a man explaining something to a woman in a condescending way, typically assuming she knows less about it than she does.
“He spent ten minutes mansplaining her own research paper back to her.”
2. verb informal
To explain something to someone, usually a woman, in a patronising manner that presumes ignorance on her part.
“Don't mansplain contract law to a barrister.”
How to Use Mansplaining
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Informal and often pointed; common in journalism, social media and conversation but rare in formal writing.
Etymology
A blend of man and explaining, formed in the early 21st century.
Full origin of mansplaining →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between mansplaining and just explaining?
Explaining is offering information someone wants or lacks. Mansplaining is offering it unasked, in a superior tone, to someone who already knows the subject, often better than the speaker does.
Can a woman mansplain?
The word specifically describes a man's behaviour towards a woman, so it is not usually applied to women. For the same behaviour without the gender element, people say "talking down" or "being condescending".
Is mansplaining an insult?
It is a criticism rather than a slur. Calling something mansplaining accuses the speaker of being patronising, so it tends to be received as a sharp rebuke.