harpies
Winged mythological terrors
Harpies are creatures from Greek mythology—winged female monsters with women's faces and birds' bodies who snatched food and carried off souls.
The singular harpy has become a common insult for a shrewish, grasping woman: His ex-wife was a harpy who took everything in the divorce.
The word implies someone predatory, nagging, or relentlessly unpleasant.
Outbursts of violent anger
- gorgonsSerpentine-haired beings causing petrification
- sirensEmergency vehicle noisemakers
- medusaFree-swimming cnidarian form
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
minotaur · centaur · cyclops · hydra · cerberus · pegasus · griffins · nymphs
Hooked bird claws
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
- wingsLimbs for flight
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
predator · swooping · screeching · snatching · vulture · eagle · carrion · plumage
Ill-tempered and nagging
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- graspingGreedy for wealth
- greedyExcessively wanting more
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
relentless · merciless · cruel · vindictive · snatching · tormenting · ravenous · voracious
furies
Outbursts of violent anger
- gorgonsSerpentine-haired beings causing petrification
- sirensEmergency vehicle noisemakers
- medusaFree-swimming cnidarian form
chimera · minotaur · centaur · cyclops · hydra · cerberus · pegasus · griffins · nymphs · satyrs
talons
Hooked bird claws
beak · predator · swooping · screeching · snatching · vulture · eagle · carrion · plumage · soar
shrewish
Ill-tempered and nagging
predatory · relentless · merciless · cruel · vindictive · snatching · tormenting · ravenous · voracious · insatiable
shrew
Ill-tempered woman, or insectivore
virago · fishwife · scold · battleaxe · hellcat · fury · vixen · witch · crone · hag
- Greek mythologyZeus, Athena, Apollo, Hera, Poseidon
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- mythical beingsdragons, dragon, unicorns, unicorn, phoenix
- DanteDivine Comedy, Inferno, Dante, Paradiso, Beatrice
- Mythological Birdsphoenix, sirens, halcyon, divine messengers
- minor deitiesgodlings, demigods, household gods, Lares, penates
harpiesangels
Divine winged messengers
saints · sweethearts · nurturers · caregivers · philanthropists