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
📰 Related Articles
23 Jun
Centre Tightens FCRA Rules for NGO Foreign Funding
23 Jun
NMC to Phase Out PG Diploma Medical Courses
22 Jun
Current Affairs Today — June 22, 2026
