What does shrewishness mean?
Shrewishness is the quality of being shrewish: sharply bad-tempered, irritable, and inclined to answer irritation with sarcasm or hostility. The noun is now mainly literary or dated, and it often describes a disagreeable, combative attitude rather than a single momentary outburst. It may be used of anyone, although the related adjective has traditionally been applied more often to women, so its use can carry a gendered and sometimes insulting undertone. In a sentence such as “Her shrewishness made every conversation feel like a confrontation,” the word signals persistent bad temper as well as pettiness or contentiousness. Shrewishness is useful because it names not merely sadness or ordinary frustration but a settled, prickly disposition. Its unusual history also gives it vivid sound: the word ultimately derives from the shrew, a small insect-eating mammal, before developing figuratively into a term for a person considered vexing or ill-tempered.
nounThe quality or character of being shrewish; sharpness of temper, irritability, or peevishness, especially when displayed through persistent criticism or hostility.
- Sharpness of temper or an irritable, peevish, and contentious disposition.
"Her shrewishness turned every disagreement into a confrontation."
"He weary of her shrewishness and refused to answer her questions."
"The play portrays the political shrewishness of its central character with dark humor."
Usually uncountable; the plural is rare and is chiefly possible when referring to distinct instances or manifestations of shrewish behavior.
"The play satirized the shrewishnesses of its central characters."
Shrewishness began with a literal shrew—the tiny insect-eating mammal whose name came to stand for something vexing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shrewishness come from?
Shrewishness was formed in English by adding the suffix “-ness” to “shrewish,” an adjective meaning peevish, cross, or ill-tempered. “Shrewish” in turn was formed from “shrew” and “-ish”; the noun “shrew” continues Old English “scrēawa,” a small insect-eating mammal, and had already acquired figurative senses for a troublesome or peevish person. A cognate development is “shrewd,” which shares the same root but originally conveyed sharpness or keenness before acquiring its modern sense of astuteness.
How shrewishness is actually used
Now chiefly literary or dated. It often implies a persistent bad temper rather than a momentary irritation. The term has traditionally been applied more often to women, so its use may carry a gendered and sometimes insulting undertone.
Easily confused with shrewishness
Shrewishness means sharp temper or irritability, whereas shrewdness means cleverness and practical astuteness.