UNSEX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unsex mean? 

• UNSEX (verb)
  The verb UNSEX has 3 senses:

1. deprive of sex or sexual powers

2. remove the qualities typical of one's sex

3. make infertile

  Familiarity information: UNSEX used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNSEX (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they unsex    ... he / she / it unsexes   
Past simple: unsexed   
Past participle: unsexed   
-ing form: unsexing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Deprive of sex or sexual powers

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "unsex" is one way to...):

deprive; divest; strip (take away possessions from someone)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Remove the qualities typical of one's sex

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

She unsexed herself

Hypernyms (to "unsex" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make infertile

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

desex; desexualise; desexualize; fix; sterilise; sterilize; unsex

Context example:

in some countries, people with genetically transmissible disabilites are sterilized

Hypernyms (to "unsex" is one way to...):

operate; operate on (perform surgery on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "unsex"):

alter; castrate; neuter; spay (remove the ovaries of)

castrate; demasculinise; demasculinize; emasculate (remove the testicles of a male animal)

vasectomise; vasectomize (remove the vas deferens)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody