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Glite Dictionary
😠 A harsh woman 🪓 A war weapon
battle-ax

battle-ax

1 9.3
A forceful woman who speaks sharply and frightens other people
  • noun
  • /ˈbætəlˌæks/
  • Slur
translation icon : arpía
  • Her reputation as a battle-ax precedes her, as she is known to be quite intimidating to those who oppose her.
  • an old battle-ax

Examples

  • The old battle axe has been hogging the post for way too long; isn't it time someone else had a chance?

    Blog text (9)

  • Many people find her to be a real battle-ax at the committee meetings, always dominating the conversation.

  • BIRDIE lets in the first customer of the day, a middle-aged battle-ax, Mrs. Jenson.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • As a battle-ax in the office, she often asserts her opinions forcefully during team discussions.

Synonyms

dragon
vsbattle-ax
  • Offensive
33 7.9

A strict unpleasant woman who treats people harshly

is domineering and verbally harsh rather than merely vigilant
vixen
vsbattle-ax
  • Offensive
12 8.4

A woman people see as mean and quick to anger

is more about aggressive control and intimidation than mere spite
hellcat
vsbattle-ax
  • Offensive
8 9.9

A woman who is often angry and mean to other people

is forceful and domineering rather than primarily malicious or spiteful
dragoness
vsbattle-ax
  • Offensive
1 8.9

A woman who is fierce, frightening, and tries to control others

is forceful and intimidating but less extreme in menace

How Domineering

battle-ax
  • Slur
1 9.3
termagant
  • Slur
1 9.9

Surface Forms

battle-ax singular
battle-axes plural

Morphology

battle-ax = battle + ax (semi-transparent) = battle + ax

The compound 'battle-ax' transparently combines 'battle' + 'ax', but the figurative sense for a domineering woman is a metaphoric extension rather than a literal instrumental meaning.

Etymology

Battle-ax comes from the real weapon named from battle ('fight') and ax ('a tool with a blade'), and people started using it as a strong name for a person—often a woman—who is very forceful and speaks sharply. So calling someone a battle-ax suggests they 'cut' others with words and are hard to argue with.