Definition

Adjective: 1. Shrewish and malicious: Describes a woman who is ill-tempered, quarrelsome, and spiteful in her behavior or speech. 2. Resembling a vixen in temperament: Characteristic of a female fox, especially in being cunning, sharp-tongued, or aggressively unpleasant.

Usage

The adjective "vixenish" is used to describe a woman's unpleasant, nagging, or spiteful personality. It is a literary and somewhat dated term with a strong negative connotation. It typically modifies nouns like "woman," "wife," "temper," "tongue," or "behavior."

Examples

• Her vixenish remarks made the dinner party very uncomfortable for everyone.
• The character of the stepmother is portrayed as a vixenish woman who constantly berates her stepdaughter.
• He could no longer tolerate her vixenish temper.

Advanced Usage

• "a vixenish old woman": A classic descriptive phrase found in literature, emphasizing the combination of age and a sharp, unpleasant disposition.
• "vixenish tongue": A metaphorical use describing someone's sharp, malicious, or scolding way of speaking.

Variants and Related Words

• Vixen (noun):
  • A female fox.
  • A spiteful, quarrelsome, or malicious woman. (This is the noun form from which "vixenish" is derived).
• Vixenly (adjective): An archaic or less common synonym for "vixenish."

Synonyms

• Shrewish
• Nagging
• Cantankerous
• Ill-tempered
• Spiteful
• Malicious
• Termagant (noun, for a shrewish woman)

Antonyms

• Amiable
• Gentle
• Kind-hearted
• Sweet-tempered
• Agreeable

Adjective

1. shrewish and malicious
   • a vixenish old woman