noun
harpy
HAH-pee
noun
1
In Greek mythology, a monstrous creature with the body of a bird and the face of a woman.
"In the myth, harpies snatched food from Phineus's table."
2
An insulting term for a nagging, unpleasant woman.
"The tabloids cruelly labelled her an office harpy."
3
A large eagle-like bird of prey found in Central and South America (the harpy eagle).
"The harpy eagle can snatch monkeys straight out of the treetops."
How to Use Harpy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mythological bird-woman monster, a real bird of prey named after it, or (as an insult) a nagging woman.
When to use it
Calling a person a "harpy" is an old-fashioned, sexist insult — best avoided in modern writing except when discussing the word's history.
Word Forms
harpies plural
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The tabloids cruelly labelled her an office _____.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek harpuia, "snatcher," from harpazo, "to seize" — the same root behind "rapacious."