harridan
Americannoun
noun
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)
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.
The hard edges that painted Sylvie as a harridan boss and villain of the series have steadily softened, though never dulled completely.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2022
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
Fricka, Wotan’s wife, sung with molten tone by Jamie Barton, isn’t the traditional harridan, but sober and wounded.
From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2017
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
"It is the herbs make it so fine," explained the harridan.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
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.
