termagant

[ tur-muh-guhnt ]

noun

1. a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman.

   Synonyms: scold, harridan, virago, shrew

2. (initial capital letter) a mythical deity popularly believed in the Middle Ages to be worshiped by the Muslims and introduced into the morality play as a violent, overbearing personage in long robes.

adjective

1. violent; turbulent; brawling; shrewish.

termagant

/ ˈtɜːməɡənt /

noun

1. 1. a shrewish woman; scold
   2. ( as modifier )

      a termagant woman

Derived Forms

• ˈtermagantly, adverb
• ˈtermagancy, noun

Other Words From

• terma·gant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of termagant¹

1175–1225; Middle English Termagaunt, earlier Tervagaunt, alteration of Old French Tervagan name of the imaginary deity

Word History and Origins

Origin of termagant¹

C13: from earlier Tervagaunt, from Old French Tervagan, from Italian Trivigante; after an arrogant character in medieval mystery plays who was supposed to be a Muslim deity

Example Sentences

More termagant now than sex goddess, she was last seen as Martha in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

From The Daily Beast

Miss Gurney was not a beautiful woman at best, and her rage transformed her into a veritable termagant.

From Project Gutenberg

Mary was placed in the charge of Shrewsbury and his termagant spouse, Bess of Hardwick.

From Project Gutenberg

If she be passionate, want of manners makes her termagant and a scold, which is much at one with lunatic.

From Project Gutenberg

This was one of the rare occasions when the termagant was strangely chary about giving offence.

From Project Gutenberg

Handsome Feilding at once proceeded to materialise his bargain, and at last the termagant was tamed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bitter
• chaotic
• fierce
• lawless
• quarrelsome
• raucous
• rough
• rowdy
• unruly
• violent