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Definition of shrew
1 : any of a family (Soricidae) of small chiefly nocturnal insectivores related to the moles and distinguished by a long pointed snout, very small eyes, and short velvety fur
2 : an ill-tempered scolding woman
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Examples of shrew in a Sentence
Rip Van Winkle went off into the mountains to escape his wife, a shrew who made his life miserable.
Recent Examples of shrew from the Web
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But what about the Nimba otter shrew, the Cuban greater funnel-eared bat or other threatened yet obscure species?
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There is the workaholic, the drunkard, the shrew, all with some redeeming qualities, but only just enough to be sympathetic.
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The Cuban solenodon, a nocturnal, football-sized mammal that resembles a chunky shrew, has an abundance of peculiar qualities.
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Then, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, is May 6 – two shows only, 2 pm and 8 pm, to be performed at Weatherford Heritage Park Amphitheatre.
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The cast of the show includes Kate (the shrew), played by Amanda Stevens.
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Northern tree shrews are native to southeast Asia and usually inhabit tropical rainforests.
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World War II is a way to tame a shrew and a bully and to pair off adorable couples of multiple generations.
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Voles, mice, and shrews dig nests and tunnels with ventilation shafts to keep the oxygen flowing, and these subterranean winter homes benefit from a snow cover that buffers them from sub-zero temperatures and predators.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shrew'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of shrew
Middle English shrewe evil or scolding person, from Old English scrēawa shrew (animal)
First Known Use of shrew
14th century
SHREW Defined for English Language Learners
shrew
playDefinition of shrew for English Language Learners
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: a small animal that looks like a mouse with a long, pointed nose
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: an unpleasant, bad-tempered woman
SHREW Defined for Kids
shrew
playDefinition of shrew for Students
1 : a small mouselike animal with a long pointed snout and tiny eyes that lives mostly on insects and worms
2 : an unpleasant woman with a bad temper
Learn More about shrew
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See words that rhyme with shrew Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shrew Spanish Central: Translation of shrew Nglish: Translation of shrew for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shrew for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shrew
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