termagancy
Definition
- Noun:
- Quarrelsome or nagging behaviour: "termagancy" refers to the quality or state of being a termagant, that is, a woman who is loud, argumentative, and prone to scolding or nagging.
Usage Examples
- (Her habit of nagging and arguing caused discomfort.)
- (The character's quarrelsome nature is a central trait.)
Advanced Usage
- "to display termagancy": to exhibit aggressive, nagging, or domineering behaviour.
- The manager's termagancy alienated her entire team. (Her loud, critical manner drove her colleagues away.)
Variants and Related Words
- Termagant (noun): a woman who is loud, argumentative, and overbearing.
- She was known as a termagant, always scolding the children. (A woman who nags and argues excessively.)
- Termagant (adj): having the qualities of a termagant; quarrelsome.
- Her termagant tone silenced the room. (Her aggressive, scolding manner.)
Synonyms
- Nagging: persistently fault-finding or complaining.
- Shrewishness: the quality of being bad-tempered or aggressively argumentative (especially of a woman).
- Virago: a woman of masculine strength or spirit; a scold.
Related Idioms
- To have a sharp tongue: to speak in a harsh, critical, or nagging way.
- Her sharp tongue and termagancy made her feared in the office. (Her tendency to scold and argue was well known.)
Phrasal Verbs