harridan
9 synonyms for harridan, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An unpleasant, bad-tempered woman who nags at people, often an older one.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Perhaps a modification of French haridelle (“old horse, nag”).
Full origin of harridan →