Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Termagant: meaning, definitions and examples

👿
Add to dictionary

termagant

 

[ ˈtɜːrməɡənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

characteristic behavior

A harsh-tempered or overbearing woman; a shrew.

Synonyms

harpy, harridan, shrew, virago.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
termagant

Used to describe a noisy, domineering, and violent woman. This word has a negative connotation and is often outdated.

  • The villagers were scared of the termagant who lived at the edge of town.
shrew

Used for a woman who is bad-tempered or aggressively assertive. It's an old-fashioned term with a negative connotation.

  • The play tells the story of a man trying to tame a shrew.
harpy

Refers to a bitter, scolding woman, or it can also be used to describe a greedy person. It carries a strong negative connotation.

  • No one wanted to talk to the harpy who kept criticizing everyone.
harridan

Describes an old, fierce, and unpleasant woman. This term is derogatory and implies harshness and hostility.

  • The kids ran away from the harridan who always yelled at them.
virago

Describes a strong, courageous, and authoritative woman but is more often used in a negative sense to mean overbearing and loud.

  • The leader was seen as a virago, taking charge and not letting anyone question her decisions.

Examples of usage

  • She was often described as a termagant by her neighbors.
  • The movie portrayed the evil queen as a termagant ruling with an iron fist.
  • Despite her reputation as a termagant, she was actually quite kind and caring.
  • The termagant boss made life miserable for her employees.
  • The termagant's constant yelling and scolding created a tense atmosphere in the household.
Context #2 | Noun

historical context

A mythical Muslim deity, often represented as a violent and overbearing woman.

Synonyms

deity, divinity, mythical figure.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
termagant

A termagant is used to describe a harsh-tempered or overbearing woman. It has a negative connotation and is often used in a pejorative manner.

  • The team found it difficult to work with their termagant manager who was always yelling at them.
  • She was well-known in the neighborhood as a termagant who seldom had a kind word for anyone.
deity

A deity refers to a god or goddess in a polytheistic religion. It is often used in religious and mythological contexts.

  • In ancient Greek mythology, Zeus is the deity of the sky and thunder.
  • They built a grand temple to honor their chosen deity.
mythical figure

A mythical figure is a character from mythology, folklore, or legend. It's used in storytelling or to refer to legendary characters.

  • King Arthur is a famous mythical figure from British folklore.
  • The children listened in awe as their grandmother told stories of mythical figures and their adventures.
divinity

Divinity can refer to the state of being divine or a god/goddess. It's often used in a more abstract or academic context, or in reference to the quality or nature of being divine.

  • Scholars debated the nature of divinity and its impact on human affairs.
  • The sculpture captured the artist's interpretation of divine beauty and grace.

Examples of usage

  • The termagant was a common figure in medieval European literature.
  • The crusaders often depicted their enemies as termagants to justify their conquests.
  • In ancient tales, the termagant was feared for her wrath and cruelty.

Translations

Translations of the word "termagant" in other languages:

🇵🇹 megera

🇮🇳 झगड़ालू महिला

🇩🇪 Zankteufel

🇮🇩 wanita pemarah

🇺🇦 сварлива жінка

🇵🇱 jędza

🇯🇵 口うるさい女

🇫🇷 mégère

🇪🇸 arpía

🇹🇷 cadaloz

🇰🇷 잔소리 많은 여자

🇸🇦 امرأة مشاكسة

🇨🇿 hašteřivá žena

🇸🇰 hašterivá žena

🇨🇳 泼妇

🇸🇮 prepirka

🇮🇸 röflari

🇰🇿 ұрысқақ әйел

🇬🇪 კამათიანი ქალი

🇦🇿 dalaşqan qadın

🇲🇽 arpía

Etymology

The termagant originated from the Middle English word 'Termagaunt,' which was a mythical deity often portrayed as a violent and overbearing character in medieval European literature. Over time, the term evolved to refer to a harsh-tempered or overbearing woman, commonly known as a shrew. The term has been used in various literary works and historical contexts to depict both real and mythical figures with dominating or aggressive characteristics.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,453, 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.