Shrew: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿญ
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shrew

 

[ สƒruห ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

animal

A shrew is a small, insectivorous mammal with a long, pointed snout. Shrews are known for their high metabolism and must eat almost constantly to survive. They are typically active at night and have a voracious appetite for insects, worms, and other small invertebrates.

Synonyms

mole, mouse, vole

Examples of usage

  • They found a shrew scurrying around the garden looking for food.
  • The shrew's sharp teeth help it to catch and eat its prey quickly.
Context #2 | Noun

person

Informally, a shrew is used to describe a woman who is ill-tempered, nagging, or constantly complaining. This term is considered derogatory and offensive, as it reinforces negative stereotypes about women.

Synonyms

harridan, nag, virago

Examples of usage

  • He referred to his ex-wife as a shrew, which angered many people.
  • Calling a woman a shrew based on her behavior is disrespectful and unfair.

Translations

Translations of the word "shrew" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น musaranho

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค›เค›เฅ‚เค‚เคฆเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Spitzmaus

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ tikus tanah

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทะตะผะปะตั€ะธะนะบะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ryjรณwka

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒˆใ‚ฌใƒชใƒใ‚บใƒŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท musaraigne

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ musaraรฑa

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท kirpi faresi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋’ค์ฅ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฒุจุงุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ rejsek

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ rejko

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้ผฉ้ผฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ krtek

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ nornamรบs

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะตั€ั‚ะตั

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒฃแƒกแƒ™แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ siรงovul

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ musaraรฑa

Etymology

The word 'shrew' originated from Old English 'scrฤ“awa', which referred to a small, agile mammal. Over time, the term evolved to describe both the animal and a disparaging term for women. The negative connotation associated with 'shrew' reflects historical gender stereotypes and societal views on women's behavior.

See also: shrewd, shrewdness.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,803, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.