harridan
Nagging old woman
A harridan is an ill-tempered, scolding woman—typically older and unpleasant.
The word is old-fashioned and literary, carrying overtones of shrewishness and persistent nagging: The old harridan berated the children from her porch.
Like many terms for difficult women, it has no exact male equivalent.
Ill-tempered woman, or insectivore
- termagantHarsh, quarrelsome woman
- viragoIll-tempered, domineering woman
- scoldRebuke harshly
- battle-axHafted cutting weapon
fishwife · harpy · vixen · spitfire · hellcat · tartar · fury · dragon
Wizened old woman
- hagFrightening elderly witch
- old womanAged female person
- biddyHen or pesky elder
- matronFemale institutional supervisor
dowager · grimalkin · old witch · beldam · aged · wizened · haggard · withered
Aggressively asserting control
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- intimidatingInspiring fear or unease
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- sternStrict or ship's aft
harsh · fierce · sharp-tongued · ill-tempered · cantankerous · irascible · acerbic · venomous
Harsh verbal criticism
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- haranguingAggressively criticizing at length
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
- shriekingEmitting shrill, loud cries
ranting · browbeating · hectoring · carping · badgering · faultfinding · complaining · criticizing
shrew
Ill-tempered woman, or insectivore
battle-ax · fishwife · harpy · vixen · spitfire · hellcat · tartar · fury · dragon · nag
crone
Wizened old woman
matron · dowager · grimalkin · old witch · beldam · aged · wizened · haggard · withered · decrepit
domineering
Aggressively asserting control
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- intimidatingInspiring fear or unease
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
stern · harsh · fierce · sharp-tongued · ill-tempered · cantankerous · irascible · acerbic · venomous · bitter
scolding
Harsh verbal criticism
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- haranguingAggressively criticizing at length
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
shrieking · ranting · browbeating · hectoring · carping · badgering · faultfinding · complaining · criticizing · reproaching
- gender stereotypesboys will be boys, pink for girls, blue for boys, man up, strong men
- old insultsknave, varlet, scoundrel, rogue, blackguard
- social ranksking, queen, emperor, empress, noble
- witcheswitch, enchantress, good witch, bad witch, white witch
- feisty womenfirebrand, hellcat, vixen, shrew, tigress
- femme fatalesfemme fatale, seductress, temptress, vixen, enchantress
harridansweetheart
Affectionate name for beloved
angel · gentle soul · dear · saint · lamb