Definition of harpy
- a cruel or grasping woman
- a mythic monster
Usage examples of harpy
The novel portrays the landlord as a harpy, cruelly demanding money from tenants who had just lost their jobs.
In the myth, a harpy was a winged monster that swooped down to torment people and steal food.
The memoir portrays the stepmother as a harpy who locks the pantry and sells the children's gifts.