emasculate
UK: ɪˈmæskjʊleɪt | US: ɪˈmæskjəleɪt
vt. 1. To deprive (a male) of his male role or identity, often by castration.
vt. 2. To weaken or make less effective; to strip of vigor or force.
Derived from Latin emasculare, combining e- (a variant of ex-, meaning "out") and masculus ("male"). The term originally referred to literal castration but evolved metaphorically to describe weakening or depriving something of its essential strength. The root mascul- persists in modern words like "masculine," retaining its core association with maleness.
The dictator sought to emasculate political opposition by silencing critics.
Over-editing can emasculate the boldness of an author's original text.
In some cultures, bulls were emasculated to make them more docile for labor.
The new law was criticized for emasculating local governance.
He felt emasculated after losing his job and struggling to provide for his family.