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shrewishly

shrewishly

9.9
In an angry, nagging way that criticizes others
  • adverb
  • /ˈʃruːɪʃli/
  • Offensive
translation icon : de manera regañona
  • She spoke shrewishly to her husband when he forgot their anniversary.

Examples

  • The boss shrewishly criticized every minor mistake in the report.

  • Don't talk shrewishly to your guests!

  • Whenever she lost her temper, she would react shrewishly towards the children.

  • She spoke shrewishly to her children when they misbehaved.

  • She responded shrewishly to his request, complaining about everything he did.

  • He criticized her shrewishly, pointing out every small mistake she made.

  • The teacher spoke shrewishly, admonishing the students for their lack of effort.

Synonyms

cattily
vsshrewishly
1 8.9

Says things in a mean, slightly cruel way to hurt someone

is more openly bad tempered and nagging than being subtly cruel
churlishly
vsshrewishly
  • Formal
1 9.5

In a rude or unfriendly way

is specifically bad tempered nagging rather than mere rudeness
scoldingly
vsshrewishly
6.4

To say things in an angry way to show you are unhappy with someone

is more about repeated nagging and bad temper than single angry speech
meanspiritedly
vsshrewishly
  • Offensive
8.5

In a mean way that tries to hurt someone

is driven by bad temper and nagging rather than petty malice
doggishly
vsshrewishly
9.3

In a rude, mean way that makes others uncomfortable

is more focused on nagging speech than general surly behaviour
scurvily
vsshrewishly
  • Archaic
9.9

In a mean and unfair way that hurts people

is mainly about personal nagging and scolding not moral baseness

Antonyms

179 1.0

In a gentle and caring way

50 1.0

In a friendly and enjoyable way

How Nagging

shrewishly
  • Offensive
9.9
testily
1 7.6
irritably
8 4.1

Surface Forms

shrewishly positive

Morphology

shrewishly = shrewish (transparent) = shrew + ish + ly

Formed regularly from 'shrew' + the adjectival suffix '-ish' (meaning 'like a shrew'), then '-ly' to make an adverb; the meaning follows directly from the base.

Etymology

Shrewishly comes from shrew, which long ago meant a small 'demon' or a woman who was always angry. A small animal called a shrew was later named for that fierce idea, so shrewishly means behaving in a bad-tempered, nagging or scolding way.