To remove sexual characteristics, appeal, or significance from something or someone.
Combination of the prefix de- with 'sexualize' (itself from sexual + -ize). The verb emerged in psychology and literary criticism in the mid-20th century.
This word captures a paradox in fashion and media: sometimes we try to desexualize clothing to make spaces inclusive, but what counts as 'sexual' is totally culturally dependent and changes constantly.
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