termagant
a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman.
(initial capital letter) a mythical deity popularly believed in the Middle Ages to be worshiped by the Muslims and introduced into the morality play as a violent, overbearing personage in long robes.
violent; turbulent; brawling; shrewish.
Origin of termagant
1Other words for termagant
Other words from termagant
- ter·ma·gant·ly, adverb
Words Nearby termagant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use termagant in a sentence
More termagant now than sex goddess, she was last seen as Martha in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Miss Gurney was not a beautiful woman at best, and her rage transformed her into a veritable termagant.
In the Onyx Lobby | Carolyn WellsMary was placed in the charge of Shrewsbury and his termagant spouse, Bess of Hardwick.
The World's Greatest Books, Vol X | VariousIf she be passionate, want of manners makes her termagant and a scold, which is much at one with lunatic.
An Essay upon Projects | Daniel DefoeThis was one of the rare occasions when the termagant was strangely chary about giving offence.
Court Beauties of Old Whitehall | W. R. H. Trowbridge
Handsome Feilding at once proceeded to materialise his bargain, and at last the termagant was tamed.
Court Beauties of Old Whitehall | W. R. H. Trowbridge
British Dictionary definitions for termagant
/ (ˈtɜːməɡənt) /
a shrewish woman; scold
(as modifier): a termagant woman
Origin of termagant
1Derived forms of termagant
- termagancy, noun
- termagantly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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