Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Affectedly refined or dainty.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Speaking or walking affectedly or with caution; affectedly elegant and nice; simpering.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective That minces; characterized by primness or affected nicety.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of mince.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective affectedly dainty or refined

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word mincing.

Examples

  • Once we’d moved on, we eventually found ourselves pootling (Trix thought the term mincing was not quite a gay enough description for our driving style, and music choices) down the A303, and Trixy decided randomly that, owing to Sherborne having a girls’ school (where my friend Sophie went incidentally) it was obviously a perfect place to stop off for a refreshing glass of wine.

    Tales from South Cornwall 2008

  • Once we’d moved on, we eventually found ourselves pootling (Trix thought the term mincing was not quite a gay enough description for our driving style, and music choices) down the A303, and Trixy decided randomly that, owing to Sherborne having a girls’ school (where my friend Sophie went incidentally) it was obviously a perfect place to stop off for a refreshing glass of wine.

    Archive 2008-07-01 2008

  • Once mincing is done, transfer the pesto into a bowl and add the olive oil.

    Handmade Basil Pesto for GBP Summer 07 « Salt and Pepper. 2007

  • One does very little cutting on vegetables using the tip, though, I do find it useful in mincing garlic and finely dicing onions.

    Tigers & Strawberries » Knives are Dangerous 2005

  • Do NOT waste time and energy in mincing word armies with those who are sent to boggle our minds and torment our ‘spirit (s) †™ because as I said, there is absolutely NO chance of changing these folks minds, they are sad but true, brain dead.

    Think Progress » UPDATE: Fox Carolina Reporter Active On White Supremacist Website 2005

  • Then she set out in short, mincing steps like a geisha with a full pot of tea.

    Villa Incognito Robbins, Tom 2003

  • The word mincing has appeared in 19 New York Times articles in the past year, including on March 21 in the theater review Reaching Deep Into a

    NYT > Home Page By THE LEARNING NETWORK 2010

  • In the first half of his latest show, Lord of the Mince - which he describes a self-assured strutt called mincing of which he is the doyen - he reviews the ups and downs in his life.

    Latest News - Yahoo!7 News 2010

  • In the first half of his latest show, Lord of the Mince - which he describes a self-assured strutt called mincing of which he is the doyen - he reviews the ups and downs in his life.

    Latest News - Yahoo!7 News 2010

  • His statements are little more than thinly disguised, professional word mincing crafted to ensure black church voters were not alarmed by his over-the-top support of homosexual rights.

    Gay Christian Movement Watch 2008

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • "Far different was the impression produced by the gaunt and mincing lady who followed on Mr. Mingott’s arm, in a wild dishevelment of stripes and fringes and floating scarves; and as this last apparition glided into view Archer’s heart contracted and stopped beating."

    - Edith Wharton, 'The Age of Innocence'.

    September 19, 2009