harpy

harpy

noun

Definition of HARPY

1

a bad-tempered scolding woman <in fairy tales stepmothers are often portrayed as harpies who make the lives of their stepchildren miserable>

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

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

2

a person who habitually preys upon others <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>

Synonyms bloodsucker, buzzard, harpy, kite, shark, vampire, vulture, wolf

Related Words exploiter, user; leech, sponge, sponger; destroyer, devourer

Antonyms prey