Resembling or characteristic of a hag; haggish or ugly and withered in appearance.
From 'hag' plus the suffix '-y,' which converts nouns to adjectives. This is a productive suffix in English that often means 'having the qualities of' or 'resembling.'
The '-y' suffix is one of the oldest and most flexible in English—it can mean 'resembling' (baggy), 'full of' (sandy), or 'tending to' (sleepy), making it a linguistic workhorse.
Derived from 'hag,' a term historically weaponized against women—particularly older women, healers, and those who defied social norms. The suffix '-y' transforms the noun into a feminine descriptor, reinforcing the gendered dehumanization.
Avoid. If describing appearance negatively, use specific, neutral terms ('weathered,' 'lined'). If describing behavior pejoratively, examine whether you'd use equivalent language for men.
["worn","aged","lined"]
Elderly women and healers labeled 'hags' were often repositories of knowledge and independence; reclaiming their dignity requires retiring slurs.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.