adj
effete
Effete (adj) means Worn out and drained of energy.
adj
1
Worn out and drained of energy.
2
Weak and without any real strength or power.
"Most writers merely produce effete works on paper, you might say, but Kerouac went and wrestled with the tree itself."
— Luc Sante, On the Road Again (2007)
"For the President, the EU is an essentially effete project – a civilian power that likes to see itself as human rights based and collegiate, but with no hard power of its own."
— Michael Cottakis, Colliding worlds: Donald Trump and the European Union (2018)
3
Weakened by too much indulgence and luxury.
4
Overly refined and unnatural in manner.
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Etymology
From Latin effētus ("exhausted", literally "that has given birth"), first used in the 1620s.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for effete
See all rhymes for effete →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of effete?
"effete" (adj) means worn out and drained of energy.
What is another word for effete?
Other words for "effete" include gone, depleted, finished, expended, spent, exhausted.
What is the opposite of effete?
The opposite of "effete" is vigorous.
What are the different meanings of effete?
"effete" has 3 main meanings: 1. Worn out and drained of energy; 2. Weak and without any real strength or power; 3. Weakened by too much indulgence and luxury.
