Harridan: meaning, definitions and examples

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harridan

 

[ หˆhรฆr.ษช.dษ™n ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

angry woman

A harridan is a pejorative term used to describe a strict, bossy, or unpleasant woman, often characterized by her sharp tongue and unfriendly demeanor. Harridans are typically seen as overbearing and difficult to deal with.

Synonyms

fishwife, shrew, termagant, virago.

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Word Description / Examples
harridan

Used to describe an old, unpleasant, and scolding woman. Often used in a derogatory manner.

  • The librarian turned into such a harridan whenever someone made noise.
shrew

Describes a woman who is aggressively assertive and often nagging. Negative connotation implying unpleasantness.

  • He dreaded going home to his shrew of a wife every evening.
termagant

Refers to a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman. Used negatively to emphasize aggressive behavior.

  • The neighbors were tired of the termagant who constantly fought with everyone.
virago

Originally meant a strong or heroic woman, but now often used negatively to describe a domineering, aggressive woman.

  • She was seen as a virago for her commanding presence in the boardroom.
fishwife

Refers to a woman who is loud and coarse, often with a harsh, critical demeanor. The word implies low social status and is typically used negatively.

  • She yelled like a fishwife, causing everyone in the market to stare.

Examples of usage

  • She was known around the office as the harridan who always yelled at her employees.
  • Don't let that harridan ruin your day with her constant complaints.

Translations

Translations of the word "harridan" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น megera

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เคฐเฅเค•เคถ เคฎเคนเคฟเคฒเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Harpyie

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ wanita galak

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะณะฐั€ะฟั–ั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ jฤ™dza

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅฃใ‚„ใ‹ใพใ—ใ„ๅฅณ (ใใกใ‚„ใ‹ใพใ—ใ„ใŠใ‚“ใช)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท harpie

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ arpรญa

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท cadaloz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ž”์†Œ๋ฆฌ ๋งŽ์€ ์—ฌ์ž

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู…ุฑุฃุฉ ุณู„ูŠุทุฉ ุงู„ู„ุณุงู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ fรบrie

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ fรบria

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆณผๅฆ‡ (pลfรน)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ harpija

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ norn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะนา›ะฐะนัˆั‹ะป ำ™ะนะตะป

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฅแƒแƒšแƒฃแƒ แƒ˜ แƒ‘แƒแƒ แƒแƒขแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ nษ™rgiz qadฤฑn

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ arpรญa

Etymology

The word harridan originated in the late 17th century and is believed to have come from the French word 'haridelle', which referred to an old horse or nag. Over time, the term evolved to describe an unpleasant or nagging woman, often used in a derogatory manner.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,532, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.