Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
shrewish [shroo-ish] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for shrewish on Thesaurus.com adjective
- having the disposition of a shrew.
Origin of shrewish Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at shrew1, -ish1 Related formsshrew·ish·ly, adverbshrew·ish·ness, nounun·shrew·ish, adjective Related Words for shrewish ill-tempered, irritable, peevish, petulant, quarrelsome, nagging Examples from the Web for shrewish Contemporary Examples of shrewish
As played by Jessalyn Gilsig, Terri is “the shrewish, nagging wife from hell,” as Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune wrote.
Andy Dehnart
May 17, 2010
Historical Examples of shrewish
But that same reseit, iff your Honner so please, to cure a shrewish wife.
Samuel Richardson
Do they not sometimes get called waspish and shrewish by virtue of their very chastity?
Plutarch
Look at her—isn’t it awfully good—just like a shrewish woman.
D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
A lackey—That is Jeppe on the Hill, who has the shrewish wife.
Ludvig Holberg
He gets the hottest tea and the nicest morsels from the shrewish woman.
James Huneker
British Dictionary definitions for shrewish shrewish adjective
- (esp of a woman) bad-tempered and nagging
Derived Formsshrewishly, adverbshrewishness, noun Word Origin and History for shrewish adj.
late 14c., “wicked, malignant,” from shrew + -ish. Of women, “malignant and scolding,” from 1560s. Related: Shrewishly; shrewishness.