viragos
Loud, domineering women
Viragos is the plural of virago, a woman of strength, spirit, or combative temperament.
The word carries contradictory connotations—sometimes admiring a woman's courage and force of will, sometimes disparaging her as domineering or shrewish: The viragos of the suffrage movement faced constant ridicule.
The alternative plural is viragoes.
Small, sharp-snouted mammals
- termagantsHarsh, quarrelsome women
- harridansScolding, bossy women
- battleaxesHeavy two-handed fighting axes
- dragonsMythical fire-breathing reptiles
tyrants · scolds · fishwives · harpies · hellcats · furies · overbearing · intimidating
Legendary all-woman fighters
- warriorsPeople engaged in battle
- heroinesBrave, admired women
- valkyriesSlain-warrior selectors for Valhalla
- championsContest winners, top performers
fighters · bravery · fearless · bold · strong-willed · dauntless · intrepid · courageous
Those who open territory
- suffragettesFemale voting-rights activists
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- nonconformistsThose defying established customs
defiant · outspoken · assertive · independent · patriarchy · resistance · empowerment · unapologetic
shrews
Small, sharp-snouted mammals
- termagantsHarsh, quarrelsome women
- harridansScolding, bossy women
- battleaxesHeavy two-handed fighting axes
dragons · tyrants · scolds · fishwives · harpies · hellcats · furies · overbearing · intimidating · bullying
Amazons
Legendary all-woman fighters
- warriorsPeople engaged in battle
- heroinesBrave, admired women
- valkyriesSlain-warrior selectors for Valhalla
champions · fighters · bravery · fearless · bold · strong-willed · dauntless · intrepid · courageous · Joan of Arc
trailblazers
Those who open territory
- suffragettesFemale voting-rights activists
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
nonconformists · defiant · outspoken · assertive · independent · patriarchy · resistance · empowerment · unapologetic · fierce
viragosshrinking violets
Excessively shy individuals
wallflowers · doormats · pushovers · milquetoasts · wilting flowers
viragosgentlewomen
Women of noble birth
feminine ideals · ingenues · blushing brides · sweet young things · coquettes