harpy

har·py

noun \ˈhär-pē\

plural harpies

Definition of HARPY

1

capitalized : a foul malign creature in Greek mythology that is part woman and part bird

2

a : a predatory person : leech b : a shrewish woman

Examples of HARPY

1. <in fairy tales stepmothers are often portrayed as harpies who make the lives of their stepchildren miserable>
2. <having just started to make it really big in the music business, he found himself surrounded by a flock of harpies greedy for a piece of the action>

Origin of HARPY

Latin Harpyia, from Greek

First Known Use: 1513

Related to HARPY

Synonyms: battle-ax (or battle-axe), dragon lady, fury, shrew, harridan, termagant, virago, vixen

Antonyms: prey

Related Words: fishwife, gorgon; carper, castigator, caviler (or caviller), censurer, critic, faultfinder, nitpicker, railer, scold; belittler, derider, detractor; pettifogger, quibbler

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with HARPY

sharpie

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