shrewishly
In nagging manner
In a nagging, bad-tempered, or quarrelsome manner.
The word applies almost exclusively to women and carries old-fashioned, sexist connotations—the shrew being a stock figure of the scolding wife: She shrewishly berated him for forgetting the milk.
Persistent bothering or complaining
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
- reproachingBlaming with disappointment
- upbraidingCriticizing someone sharply
- chastisingCriticizing severely for faults
admonishing · rebuking · reprimanding · haranguing · lecturing · henpecking · tongue-lashing · faultfinding
Chemically burning; bitterly mocking
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
- acerbicSharp and biting
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
- sharp-tonguedGiven to cutting remarks
acrimonious · scathing · venomous · vitriolic · tart · acidic · stinging · barbed
Inclined to dispute
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
disputatious · cantankerous · contrarian · disagreeable · adversarial · feisty · quarrelsome · wrangling
nagging
Persistent bothering or complaining
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
- reproachingBlaming with disappointment
- upbraidingCriticizing someone sharply
chastising · admonishing · rebuking · reprimanding · haranguing · lecturing · henpecking · tongue-lashing · faultfinding · carping
caustic
Chemically burning; bitterly mocking
sharp-tongued · acrimonious · scathing · venomous · vitriolic · tart · acidic · stinging · barbed · piercing
argumentative
Inclined to dispute
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
belligerent · disputatious · cantankerous · contrarian · disagreeable · adversarial · feisty · quarrelsome · wrangling · bickering
irritable
Easily provoked to annoyance
grouchy · snappish · cross · crabby · irascible · surly · churlish · grumpy · sullen · querulous