1
as in shrew
a bad-tempered scolding woman
in fairy tales stepmothers are often portrayed as harpies who make the lives of their stepchildren miserable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in predator
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harpy
Think a front desk hewn from Dionysos marble and sconces in the shape of harpies.
—
Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2025
For those guys, mothers are either harpies or sirens—villains or traps.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
This is her name for the seventh circle of hell from Dante’s Inferno, where the souls of those who’ve committed suicide become trees, and harpies peck at them for all eternity.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2023
Karen is, of course, the generic name for the ubiquitous American harpy who, through the long summer of 2020, pitched fits about masks and sometimes about race, in public spaces.
—Virginia Heffernan, Wired, 18 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for harpy
Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2025
For those guys, mothers are either harpies or sirens—villains or traps.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
This is her name for the seventh circle of hell from Dante’s Inferno, where the souls of those who’ve committed suicide become trees, and harpies peck at them for all eternity.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2023
Karen is, of course, the generic name for the ubiquitous American harpy who, through the long summer of 2020, pitched fits about masks and sometimes about race, in public spaces.
—Virginia Heffernan, Wired, 18 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for harpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harpy
Noun
-
These are important tools used for both feeding and building their dens and digging for other menu items such as mice, gophers, voles and shrews.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
-
See page 8 to order a shrew for $29, plus shipping and handling.—
Jeff Wilson,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One of the more common ways bear encounters escalate is when an off-leash dog runs toward a bear, annoys it, and then comes sprinting back to its owner with an angry predator in pursuit.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
The company has cracked down on in-game communication between users as numerous states and families allege the platform has become a hunting ground for child predators.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Southern Ontario is, famously, where the vampires hang out.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
William Sharp, an associate teaching professor of psychology at Northeastern University says what sets the vampire apart is its emphasis on the taboo.—
Caroline Reilly,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Bald eagles, owls, hawks, falcons and vultures are all among the birds of prey visitors can see when visiting the 3-acre property on Lake Sybelia, which is one of 55 Audubon centers and sanctuaries nationwide.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
-
The cougar would have done a good job of stripping off the main parts, then vultures and smaller animals would have cleaned up the leftovers.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harpy. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
