1 macho | Definition of macho

macho

adjective
ma·​cho | \ ˈmĂ€-(ˌ)chƍ How to pronounce macho (audio) \

Definition of macho

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: characterized by machismo : aggressively virile

macho

noun
plural machos

Definition of macho (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : one who exhibits machismo
2 : machismo

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Synonyms & Antonyms for macho

Synonyms: Noun

machismo, manhood, manliness, masculinity, virility

Antonyms: Noun

femininity, muliebrity, womanhood, womanliness

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Examples of macho in a Sentence

Adjective

the macho world of football

Noun

their annual guys-only hunting trip is a celebration of macho

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

So the macho and gruesome language thrown around in the Waystar offices has a certain unsettling credibility. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Succession Bores Into the Power of Fear," 25 Aug. 2019 Through history and myth, Inland revives and reframes the Camel Corps experiment, eschewing macho cowboy swagger in favor of what those cowboys might have missed. Katherine Cusumano, Outside Online, "The Forgotten History Behind ‘Inland’," 18 Aug. 2019 In the Wanderer, Dion is the macho loverboy who has goes from town to town loving and leaving them. Mike Oliver | [email protected], al, "My Vinyl Countdown is all ears as it enters The Twighlight Zone," 17 Aug. 2019 That kind of macho posturing would not do for Bernadette. Alexandra Lange, Curbed, "What ‘Where’d You Go, Bernadette?’ meant to me as a woman in architecture," 13 Aug. 2019 The ship’s cramped, dingy, 6-by-60 meters overflow with rumor, a macho posturing, and a toxic ideology of heroism. Adrian Daub, The New Republic, "Hulu’s Das Boot Gets Lost at Sea," 19 June 2019 Is this a blip, or a turning point for the traditionally macho genre? Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: The uniquely California rise of Marianne Williamson," 31 July 2019 The macho posturing ventures into more specific comparisons, with dialogue seemingly written for (if not by) teenage boys. Brian Lowry, CNN, "'Hobbs & Shaw' races into new lane under 'Fast & Furious' flag," 31 July 2019 Tarantino’s depiction of marital domesticity is as bitter and burdensome as any macho adolescent might envision it. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "Review: Quentin Tarantino’s Obscenely Regressive Vision of the Sixties in “Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood”," 27 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

And vulnerable, with real feelings, rather than being this macho, trying-to-be-tough guy. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, "Brad Pitt: In a post-#MeToo world, men can be ‘vulnerable and own their ‘flaws’," 30 July 2019 Who would have ever thought that NASCAR — the ultimate macho-man sports — would defer to women’s soccer? Mike Bianchi, orlandosentinel.com, "Coke Zero Sugar 400 shows NASCAR, NBC don’t know when to come in out of the rain | Commentary," 7 July 2019 The restaurant’s standout items are traditional Bolivian dishes, like the pique a la macho, an entree of steak strips sauteed with red onion, peppers and spices. Leeanne Griffin, courant.com, "La Familia Brings Authentic Bolivian Food To Canton," 25 June 2018 Eat WellBig Ben Huanchaco has fantastic seafood (stewed crabs, pescado a lo macho), with an unbeatable view of the bay. Catherine Elton, CondĂ© Nast Traveler, "Your Next Surf Spot Should Be Peru," 16 Oct. 2018 Why Verge readers might care: Justice League was the most promising of the DC movies to date, and Momoa’s Aquaman, with his rough, smirking humor and outsized version of macho, was a major part of that. Tasha Robinson, The Verge, "The Verge fall movie preview, December 2018," 7 Sep. 2018 With the addition of La Familia in Canton, Connecticut now has its own dedicated spot for specialties like salteñas, pique a lo macho and sopa de mani. Leeanne Griffin, courant.com, "La Familia Brings Authentic Bolivian Food To Canton," 25 June 2018 Some were placing their bets on Joe Biden And others backed Donald Trump This macho sparring has cropped up before. Dwight Adams, Indianapolis Star, "Why Twitter spat between Donald Trump and Joe Biden might hurt anti-bullying efforts," 22 Mar. 2018 In the office, only his perceptive assistant, Mary Johnson, sees beneath his macho-man swagger. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "A gay love affair in '50s D.C. plays out to touching effect in 'Fellow Travelers'," 18 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'macho.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of macho

Adjective

1928, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for macho

Adjective

Spanish, literally, male, from Latin masculus — more at masculine

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More Definitions for macho

macho

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of macho

often disapproving : having or showing qualities (such as very noticeable strength and aggression) that agree with traditional ideas about what men are like : manly or masculine in a very noticeable or exaggerated way

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More from Merriam-Webster on macho

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with macho

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for macho

Spanish Central: Translation of macho

Nglish: Translation of macho for Spanish Speakers