harridan

American  

[hahr-i-dn] / ˈhɑr ɪ dn /

noun

1. a scolding, vicious woman; hag; shrew.

   Synonyms:

   scold, virago, nag

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harridan British  

/ ˈhærɪdən /

noun

1. a scolding old woman; nag

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Etymology

Origin of harridan

1690–1700; perhaps alteration of French haridelle thin, worn-out horse, large, gaunt woman (compared with the initial element of haras stud farm, though derivation is unclear)

Explanation

You might call the old lady next door who yells at you to stay off her lawn a harridan. When you see the word harridan, think of the Wicked Witch of the West — a mean-tempered, sharp-tongued old woman. Calling an older, bossy woman a harridan is certainly not a compliment, although most harridans — aside from your strict old scold of an English teacher — probably won't be familiar with the somewhat obscure term. It comes from seventeenth century slang, probably stemming from the French word haridelle, or "old horse."

Example Sentences

The worst bits of Bob Honey are those involving the character’s ex-wife, a harridan called Helen, about whom he is so vicious, I had wondered whether Penn’s own ex-wife might have commented on it.

From The Guardian • May 5, 2018

And there’s no denying the subversive frisson inspired by watching actresses go full harridan, especially when it comes to traditional ideas about female agency and the approving male gaze.

From Washington Post • Mar. 15, 2018

Even now our image of Crawford is shaped by Faye Dunaway’s shrieking harridan in “Mommie Dearest” as opposed to Crawford’s Academy Award-winning work in “Mildred Pierce.”

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2017

“She doesn’t just play Fricka as a harridan, so it has this epic sadness about it.”

From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2015

"They call me Mistress Semele," said the harridan.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman