Harridan Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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harridan

[ˈhær.ɪ.dən ]

Definition

^{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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

Harridans often appear in classic literature as antagonists or comic figures, reflecting societal attitudes toward assertive women.
Charles Dickens used the term in his works to describe harsh and oppressive women, shaping the perception of the word over time.

Pop Culture

In films and television, harrians often take on the role of the strict school principal, an overbearing mother-in-law, or a demanding boss.
Modern adaptations of fairy tales sometimes portray witches or evil stepmothers, highlighting traits typically associated with the term.

Psychology

The term reflects cultural attitudes about gender, specifically how women's assertive behaviors are often labeled negatively.
Research suggests that assertive women are frequently judged more harshly than their male counterparts, leading to labels like 'harridan'.

Historical Context

Historically, women who were outspoken or defied social norms were often ridiculed and labeled as harrians in various cultures.
The term reflects the societal tendency to stigmatize women who challenge traditional gender roles, influencing language and literature.

Origin of 'harridan'

Main points about word origin

The word 'harridan' comes from the French term 'hardi', meaning bold or daring, but evolved to denote a scolding woman.
It is thought to have originated in the 17th century and was often used in literature to describe unpleasant female characters.

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.

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38529 decolonizing
38530 illegibility
38531 gilled
38532 harridan
38533 populousness
38534 nonseasonal
38535 hangdog
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