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Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing

Effete

adjective / ih-FEET / Hard
Meaning

Exhausted, worn-out, or having lost its vitality; lacking robustness.

Origin / Etymology

From Latin 'effetus' (worn out by bearing children), from 'ex-' (out) + 'fetus' (offspring, fruit). Originally a biological metaphor that became a cultural and institutional one.

Synonyms
Decadent Enervated Spent
Antonyms
Vigorous Robust Spirited
Example Sentence
"Critics argue that the ICAR has become an effete bureaucratic monolith, disconnected from farmer realities and emerging agro-climatic challenges."
🎯 UPSC Usage

GS2 Polity / GS3 Economy: Use to critique institutional decline, effete legislatures, effete oversight bodies, effete state-owned enterprises. Strong word; use sparingly.

Relevant Subjects
Polity
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