termagant
Americannoun
adjective
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violent; turbulent; brawling; shrewish.
noun
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a shrewish woman; scold
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( as modifier )
a termagant woman
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Other Word Forms
- termagancy noun
- termagantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of termagant
1175–1225; Middle English Termagaunt, earlier Tervagaunt, alteration of Old French Tervagan name of the imaginary deity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As an astringent, tipsy termagant, she’s so hilarious, appalling and endearing that she could carry the production all by herself.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2015
I appreciate this one because we so rarely hear what the groom ends up thinking when he watches his betrothed turn into a termagant.
From Slate • Feb. 27, 2012
Her eldest son, Alec, returns home with his termagant wife when their house collapses.
From The Guardian • Oct. 26, 2010
The outsized termagant is voiced here, as she was in the rather dull 2002 Broadway revival of the musical, by Judi Dench, in full, booming form.
From New York Times • Aug. 24, 2010
You thought yourself mighty clever, I'll be bound," the termagant continued, "to go off while I was asleep, my man!
From Sophia A Romance by Weyman, Stanley John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.