old-womanish

[ohld-woom-uh-nish]

adjective

1. Sometimes Offensive.,  having characteristics considered typical of an old woman, as excessive fussiness or timidity.

Sensitive Note

This term is sometimes perceived as insulting because it reinforces stereotypes.

Other Word Forms

• old-womanishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of old-womanish¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

It is worse than childish; it is old-womanish.

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Whether her hair was abundant or not no one could tell, for an old-womanish cap with narrow ruffle so covered her head that only a faint blonde aureole could be seen beneath it.

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Surely my old-womanish babbling has not upset you like this!

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Their odd old-mannish or old-womanish appearance, due more to their grotesque rags than to anything in the children themselves, betrays their race even without their chatter.

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Again, there is no priest who does not confess that he was distracted, or failed to read his Preparatoria, or other old-womanish trifles of the kind.

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