Shrew: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ญ
shrew
[ สruห ]
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
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.
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
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:
๐ต๐น musaranho
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคเฅเคเคฆเคฐ
๐ฉ๐ช Spitzmaus
๐ฎ๐ฉ tikus tanah
๐บ๐ฆ ะทะตะผะปะตัะธะนะบะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ ryjรณwka
๐ฏ๐ต ใใฌใชใใบใ
๐ซ๐ท musaraigne
๐ช๐ธ musaraรฑa
๐น๐ท kirpi faresi
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ค์ฅ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฒุจุงุจ
๐จ๐ฟ rejsek
๐ธ๐ฐ rejko
๐จ๐ณ ้ผฉ้ผฑ
๐ธ๐ฎ krtek
๐ฎ๐ธ nornamรบs
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะถะตััะตั
๐ฌ๐ช แแฃแกแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ siรงovul
๐ฒ๐ฝ musaraรฑa
Etymology
The word 'shrew' originated from Old English 'scrฤawa', 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.
- ...
- 25800 jesting
- 25801 rueful
- 25802 quipped
- 25803 shrew
- 25804 afflicting
- 25805 aspirate
- 25806 liberalize
- ...