Harpy
noun
a ravenous, filthy monster having a woman's head and a bird's body.
Harpy
American
[hahr-pee]
/ ˈhɑr pi /
noun
plural
Harpies-
Classical Mythology. a ravenous, filthy monster having a woman's head and a bird's body.
-
(lowercase) a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; shrew.
-
(lowercase) a greedy, predatory person.
Harpy
1
British
/ ˈhɑːpɪ /
noun
harpy
2
British
/ ˈhɑːpɪ /
noun
Other Word Forms
- harpylike adjective
Etymology
Origin of Harpy
< Latin Harpȳia, singular of Harpȳiae < Greek Hárpȳiai (plural), literally, snatchers, akin to harpázein to snatch away
Explanation
A harpy is a monster from Greek mythology. A harpy has the head and upper body of a woman and the wings and lower body of a bird. In Greek mythology, harpies were creatures who were sent by Zeus during storms to do his bidding. When a person or an object went missing, the disappearance was often blamed on harpies. The word harpy comes from a Greek word meaning "snatcher." Today, the word harpy is often used as a derogatory term for a very unpleasant woman.
Vocabulary lists containing harpy
"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
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Reading: Literature - Mythology - Introductory
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Reading: Literature - Mythology - Middle School
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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.
Harpy eagles were once widespread throughout southern Mexico and Central and South America, but tree cutting and burning has dramatically shrunk their range.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2021
Harpy birthday: On Dec. 8, wish it on Ann Coulter.
From Washington Post • Jul. 26, 2018
The Harpy is designed to attack radars, not people, and no country has announced plans to build fully autonomous killing machines.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2018
I’m also hoping the Sons of the Harpy finally do… something.
From The Verge • Jun. 6, 2016
“Why do you care so much for Hizdahr, old man? If he is not the Harpy, he is the Harpy’s firstborn son.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
