Castrate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈka-ˌstrāt/ cas·trate

Meaning & Definition of Castrate

Castrate (verb)

  1. to deprive (a male animal or person) of the testes; also, chiefly in technical contexts, to deprive (a female animal or person) of the ovaries
  2. to block the production of sex hormones in (a person) by the use of hormone therapy, to cause to undergo chemical castration
  3. to deprive of virility, emasculate

Castrate (noun)

  1. a castrated individual

Castrate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality

    "a movie version that castrates the hard-hitting novel"

    similar: damp, dampen, deaden, dehydrate, desiccate, devitalize, enervate, geld, lobotomize, petrify
    related: burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enfeeble, exhaust, fatigue, sap, tucker (out), undermine, weaken, wear, wear out, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit
    opposite: brace, energize, enliven, invigorate, quicken, stimulate, vitalize, vivify
    near: arouse, rouse, stir, charge, electrify, galvanize, excite, ferment, fire, foment, incite, inflame, instigate, kindle, provoke, spark, trigger, whip (up), abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, inspire, lift, reactivate, reanimate, reawake, reawaken, recharge, reenergize, refresh, regenerate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, revive

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Castrate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Castrate:

damp, dampen, deaden, dehydrate, desiccate, devitalize, enervate, geld, lobotomize, petrify

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Castrate

Words with the opposite meaning of Castrate:

brace, energize, enliven, invigorate, quicken, stimulate, vitalize, vivify

Related Words for Castrate

burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enfeeble, exhaust, fatigue, sap, tucker (out), undermine, weaken, wear, wear out, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Near Antonyms of Castrate

arouse, rouse, stir, charge, electrify, galvanize, excite, ferment, fire, foment, incite, inflame, instigate, kindle, provoke, spark, trigger, whip (up), abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, inspire, lift, reactivate, reanimate, reawake

Word Forms of Castrate

Inflections: castrated, castrating, castrates

Derived words: castrator (noun), castratory (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Castrate

borrowed from Latin castrātus, past participle of castrāre "to remove the testes of (a male animal), spay (a female animal), emasculate," probably derivative of a noun *castrum "knife, cutting instrument," going back to Indo-European *ḱəs-tro-, from *ḱəs-, zero-grade of *ḱes- "cut, cut off" + *-tr-, suffix of instruments; whence also, with presumed full grade, Sanskrit śástra- "knife, murder weapon"; from the base *ḱes- Sanskrit ví śasta "carved up," śāśá- "knife for butchering"

First known use: 1554

Frequently Asked Questions about Castrate

What does "Castrate" mean?

"Castrate" means to deprive (a male animal or person) of the testes; also, chiefly in technical contexts, to deprive (a female animal or person) of the ovaries. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to deprive (a male animal or person) of the testes; also, chiefly in technical contexts, to deprive (a female animal or person) of the ovaries.

What is another word for "Castrate"?

Other words for "Castrate" include damp, dampen, deaden, dehydrate, desiccate, devitalize, enervate and geld. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Castrate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Castrate"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Castrate". Common alternatives include damp, dampen, deaden, dehydrate, desiccate, devitalize, enervate, geld, lobotomize and petrify.

What is the opposite of "Castrate"?

Antonyms of "Castrate" include brace, energize, enliven, invigorate, quicken, stimulate, vitalize and vivify. Near antonyms include arouse, rouse, stir and charge.

How do you use "Castrate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Castrate" in a sentence: "a movie version that castrates the hard-hitting novel".

Is "Castrate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Castrate" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Castrate"?

"Castrate" is pronounced /ˈka-ˌstrāt/ and divided into syllables as cas·trate.

What is the origin of the word "Castrate"?

"Castrate" comes from borrowed from Latin castrātus, past participle of castrāre "to remove the testes of (a male animal), spay (a female animal), emasculate," probably derivative of a noun *castrum "knife, cutting instrument," going back to Indo-European *ḱəs-tro-, from *ḱəs-, zero-grade of *ḱes- "cut, cut off" + *-tr-, suffix of instruments; whence also, with presumed full grade, Sanskrit śástra- "knife, murder weapon"; from the base *ḱes- Sanskrit ví śasta "carved up," śāśá- "knife for butchering". First known use: 1554.