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viraginous

adjective/ˌvɪrˈædʒ.ɪ.nəs/

definition

having a strong or aggressive personality typically associated with women

example

Her viraginous demeanor often intimidated her colleagues during meetings, where she was known to assertively voice her opinions.

synonyms
assertivestrong-willeddomineering
word origin — Derived from the Latin word 'virago', meaning a woman with masculine qualities, combined with the suffix '-ous'.

viraginous, nucamentaceous, filiopietistic, surreptitious, quaggy: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 278. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. viraginous · adjective/ˌvɪrˈædʒ.ɪ.nəs/

    having a strong or aggressive personality typically associated with women

    Her viraginous demeanor often intimidated her colleagues during meetings, where she was known to assertively voice her opinions.

    Synonyms: assertive, strong-willed, domineering

    Origin: Derived from the Latin word 'virago', meaning a woman with masculine qualities, combined with the suffix '-ous'.

  2. nucamentaceous · adjective/ˌnu.kə.mənˈteɪ.ʃəs/

    relating to or resembling the nut or seed of a plant

    The artist's latest painting was inspired by the nucamentaceous texture of various seeds, highlighting their intricate designs and patterns.

    Synonyms: nutlike, nutshell, nutty

    Origin: From the Latin 'nucamentum', meaning 'nut or kernel'

  3. filiopietistic · adjective/ˌfɪliəˌpaɪəˈtɪstɪk/

    excessively devoted to or reverent about one's ancestors or family traditions

    His filiopietistic attitudes often led him to dismiss modern ideas in favor of outdated family traditions.

    Synonyms: ancestral, familial, traditional

    Origin: The term 'filiopietistic' is derived from the Latin 'filio' meaning 'son' and 'pietas' meaning 'piety' or 'devotion', combined with the suffix '-istic' to form the adjective.

  4. surreptitious · adjective/ˌsɜrəpˈtɪʃəs/

    kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit

    She had a surreptitious glance at her neighbor's notes during the exam, knowing that cheating was prohibited.

    Synonyms: secret, furtive, clandestine

    Origin: from Latin 'surreptitius', from 'surripere' meaning 'to seize secretly'

  5. quaggy · adjective/ˈkwæɡi/

    soft and boggy or marshy ground

    The hikers struggled to navigate through the quaggy terrain, as their boots sank into the soft earth with every step.

    Synonyms: soggy, marshy, muddy

    Origin: late 16th century, of uncertain origin, possibly from the dialect word 'quag' meaning 'a bog or swamp'.