Definitions
- Referring to a woman who is ill-tempered, nagging, or quarrelsome. - Describing a person who is difficult to deal with or control due to their sharp tongue or aggressive behavior. - Talking about a small insectivorous mammal with a long pointed snout and tiny eyes.
- Referring to a woman who is quarrelsome, overbearing, or domineering. - Describing a person who is loud, boisterous, or aggressive in speech or behavior. - Talking about a mythical Muslim deity portrayed as a violent and overbearing woman.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to negative qualities in a person, particularly women.
- 2Both words suggest a lack of control or restraint in behavior or speech.
- 3Both words have negative connotations and are used to criticize or insult someone.
- 4Both words are relatively uncommon and may be considered archaic or outdated.
What is the difference?
- 1Gender: Shrew can be used to describe both men and women, while termagant is typically used to describe women.
- 2Behavior: Shrew emphasizes nagging, complaining, and ill-temperament, while termagant emphasizes overbearing, domineering, and aggressive behavior.
- 3Usage: Shrew is more commonly used in modern English than termagant, which is considered archaic or outdated.
- 4Connotation: Shrew is generally considered less offensive than termagant, which has a harsher and more insulting tone.
Remember this!
Shrew and termagant are synonyms that refer to negative qualities in a person, particularly women. However, the difference between shrew and termagant lies in their origin, gender, behavior, usage, and connotation. While shrew is more commonly used and emphasizes nagging and ill-temperament, termagant is considered archaic and emphasizes overbearing and aggressive behavior with a harsher tone.
