1. small mammals with pointed snouts that eat insects and other small creatures
2. bad-tempered or nagging women
Usage: offensive; archaic

Examples

• The tiny shrews scurried through the fallen leaves searching for insects.
• Shrews have very high metabolisms and must eat frequently to survive.
• Water shrews can dive underwater to hunt for small fish and aquatic insects.
• The garden was home to several species of shrews that helped control pest populations.
• Shrews are among the smallest mammals in North America.
• Despite their size, shrews are fierce predators in their ecosystem.