noun / adjective

termagant

TUR-muh-gunt/ˈtɜːrməɡənt/

Harshly domineering and argumentative, especially of a woman.

The narrator calls his domineering, argumentative neighbor a termagant.

At a shared table, a woman crowds another adult's space, angrily jabbing a finger toward him while thrusting her other palm across his raised conversational hand to shut him down.

Etymology

termagantOld Frenchname of a fictitious deity

Tervagant was the name of a fictitious deity attributed to Muslims in medieval literature and plays. The name’s origin is uncertain, but it became a label for a violent, overbearing person, especially a woman.

In context

Ion Books133:12

she is such a ferocious old termagant,--such an old vulturess.

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More examples

His termagant aunt shouts down anyone who disagrees with her.
The play's two termagants spend dinner trading insults.
Her termagant manner turns every planning session into a battle.

Forms

termagant · termagants

Similar words

shrew: Also insulting, but emphasizes a woman's bad temper.
overbearing: Emphasizes controlling others rather than constantly picking arguments.
quarrelsome: Emphasizes eagerness to argue rather than domineering behavior.