1The once-mighty empire had become effete and complacent, unable to respond effectively to external threats.
2Is it possible for a society to become so effete that it loses the capacity for self-renewal and adaptation?
3The aristocracy's effete lifestyle, characterised by excessive luxury and idleness, contributed to its downfall.
4Critics argue that the effete culture of the wealthy elite is fundamentally disconnected from the concerns of ordinary people.
5There is a long tradition of satire targeting the effete excesses of the ruling class, from Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' to contemporary comedy.