shrewishness

9.9

Being often angry and criticizing others in a harsh, nagging way

noun
/ˈʃruːɪʃnəs/

Offensive

: arpía

Is it for Beryl Caighn, an innocent bystander... to your sordid domestic failure... or is it your husband, driven ill by your shrewishness?

Examples

I have no gift at all in shrewishness;

Return with Honor (1999)
Her constant complaints and nagging revealed her shrewishness, making it hard for anyone to enjoy their time with her.
A shrewishness often emerged when she discussed household chores, expressing annoyance at the smallest oversight.
Many regarded her shrewishness as a major flaw in her character, often driving friends and family away.

Synonyms

petulance

vsshrewishness

5 9.0

Being easily annoyed and acting childish

is stronger, involving active nagging or scolding rather than sulking

bitchiness

vsshrewishness

Offensive

3 8.5

A way of behaving that is mean and hurtful to other people

is more about persistent nagging or scolding than mean criticism

surliness

vsshrewishness

1 7.7

A way of behaving that is angry and unfriendly

is more about repeated nagging or scolding directed at people

orneriness

vsshrewishness

Informal

1 9.9

Being easily annoyed, stubborn, and hard to get along with

is more about vocal nagging and scolding rather than mere stubbornness

churlishness

vsshrewishness

Formal

1 8.6

Rude, unfriendly behavior that makes other people feel unwelcome

is more about persistent scolding and nagging than general rudeness

cantankerousness

vsshrewishness

9.2

A habit of being bad-tempered and hard to get along with

is focused more on nagging and scolding others rather than arguing

Antonyms

kindness

297 1.0

Friendly and generous actions that help or comfort other people

pleasantness

2 3.4

A feeling that something is nice and enjoyable

How Nagging

shrewishness

Offensive

9.9

complaining

3.7

irritability

8 4.2

petulance

5 9.0

Surface Forms

shrewishness singular

shrewishnesses plural

Morphology

shrewishness = shrewish (transparent) = shrew + ish + ness

Formed by the adjective 'shrewish' + the nominalizing suffix '-ness', producing the state or quality 'being shrewish', which follows standard English derivation.

Etymology

Shrewishness comes from the old word shrew, which meant a 'small, mouse-like animal' and was also used long ago for a 'wicked or angry person'. So shrewishness means being often bad-tempered or always nagging, like someone who 'bites' with words.