termagant
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of termagant
1175–1225; Middle English Termagaunt, earlier Tervagaunt, alteration of Old French Tervagan name of the imaginary deity
Explanation
Termagant is an insulting name for a woman who likes to nag, scold, or complain. Termagant is an old-fashioned insult for a woman. A termagant is like a shrew (another old-fashioned term). Termagants are always in a bad mood, whining and complaining, and generally making life miserable for everyone around them. You might also see termagant used as an adjective, as in "that termagant wife of yours is trouble." The noun termagant comes from a made-up violent god that frequently appeared in European medieval literature.
Vocabulary lists containing termagant
"The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving
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"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 3
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Spoon River Anthology
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Being introduced into the medieval drama, the name became synonymous with a stage fury— "I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant."
From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest
I could have such a fellow whipp'd for o'erdoing Termagant.
From The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume III (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland I by Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting)
He was rowed back to the Termagant, and when he arrived somebody was waiting for him on her deck.
From The Noank's Log A Privateer of the Revolution by Stoddard, W. O.
He had piloted the Termagant safely into her harbor.
From The Noank's Log A Privateer of the Revolution by Stoddard, W. O.
They trouble themselves little about Sin, the universal but invisible enemy whom the Church Termagant attempts to shell and dislodge; but are very busy in attacking Sins.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 07, May, 1858 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
