termagant
Harsh, scolding woman
A termagant is a harsh, overbearing woman—scolding, shrewish, violently temperamental.
The word is old-fashioned and literary, carrying the flavor of medieval mystery plays where Termagant was a fictional deity supposedly worshipped by Muslims, portrayed as loud and tyrannical.
Now it survives mainly as a sexist insult for difficult women: His mother-in-law was a termagant who made everyone miserable.
Ill-tempered woman, or insectivore
battle-axe · hellcat · fury · vixen · harpy · spitfire · beldam · quarrelsome
Ill-tempered older woman
- hellionUnruly, mischievous person
- she-devilMalicious, cruel woman
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- ogressFemale man-eating giant
gorgon · witch · crone · hag · battleaxe · fury · fiend · monster
Arrogantly dominating in manner
- bossyToo fond of directing others
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- tyrannicalExercising power unjustly
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
hectoring · dictatorial · controlling · high-handed · masterful · commanding · assertive · browbeating
Medieval dramatization of scripture
- morality playDrama teaching ethical lessons
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- personificationAttributing humanity to non-humans
- stock characterConventional recurring persona
commedia · stage villain · melodrama · caricature · pantomime
No longer in use
- datedOld-fashioned or courted
- historicalOf documented times
- pejorativeTerm expressing disapproval
- genderedCategorized by sex
misogynist · sexist · derogatory · offensive · stigmatizing · stereotyping · patriarchal · anachronistic
shrew
Ill-tempered woman, or insectivore
fishwife · battle-axe · hellcat · fury · vixen · harpy · spitfire · beldam · quarrelsome · nagging
harridan
Ill-tempered older woman
- hellionUnruly, mischievous person
- she-devilMalicious, cruel woman
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
ogress · gorgon · witch · crone · hag · battleaxe · fury · fiend · monster · demon
overbearing
Arrogantly dominating in manner
- bossyToo fond of directing others
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- tyrannicalExercising power unjustly
bullying · hectoring · dictatorial · controlling · high-handed · masterful · commanding · assertive · browbeating · intimidating
mystery play
Medieval dramatization of scripture
- morality playDrama teaching ethical lessons
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- personificationAttributing humanity to non-humans
stock character · commedia · stage villain · melodrama · caricature · pantomime
obsolete
No longer in use
- datedOld-fashioned or courted
- historicalOf documented times
- pejorativeTerm expressing disapproval
gendered · misogynist · sexist · derogatory · offensive · stigmatizing · stereotyping · patriarchal · anachronistic · outdated
termagantgentle soul
Naturally kind person
lamb · angel · sweetheart · dove · saint
termagantgentlewoman
Woman of high birth
lady · diplomat · peacekeeper · harmonizer · conciliator
termagantmeek
Humbly unassertive
gentle · mild-mannered · docile · submissive · sweet-tempered