Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Schoolmarm

//ˈskulˌmɑɹm// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A female teacher, especially one seen to be old-fashioned and extremely severe and strict. US, slang

    "The schoolmarm came to an abrupt stop in her arithmetic quizzing, her face set into a pruny scowl that looked to be permanent."

  2. 2
    a woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict) wordnet
  3. 3
    Someone who acts like a schoolmarm; a person acting harsh and stern. broadly

    "Bernstein, am I a stuffed shirt? Am I a horse-faced hypocrite? Am I a New England school marm?"

  4. 4
    A tree with two or more trunks; a forked tree.

    "His brother Thomas, impaled upon the "schoolmarm tree," had opened his mouth to cry but snow and wind hurled back the words into his throat so that nothing emerges but white froth."

Verb
  1. 1
    To discipline in the manner of a schoolmarm; to harshly reprimand or chide. US, slang, transitive

    "Well, our trouble in America is that we're being schoolmarmed to death. You can see it in any paper you pick up."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From school + marm (“madam”).

Etymology 2

From school + marm (“madam”).

See also for "schoolmarm"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: schoolmarm