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villainess

American  
[vil-uh-nis] / ˈvɪl ə nɪs /

noun

  1. a villainous woman.


Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of villainess

First recorded in 1580–90; villain + -ess

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Rapp played central villainess Regina George, reprising a role she originated on Broadway, and spent the press tour gleefully going off script.

From BBC Jul. 24, 2025

“First Kill” is an origin story, going back to when the villainess Leena Klammer escaped from an Estonian mental hospital and passed herself off as Esther Albright, the long-missing daughter of a wealthy American family.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 19, 2022

She’s not evil; it’s this archetype that chases her: the deadly villainess, the villain behind the man.

From New York Times Jun. 8, 2022

But the infernal Agni knows, as does any reader familiar with “The Ramayana”: Kaikeyi is destined to play a villainess in the great game of gods and mortals.

From Washington Post Apr. 26, 2022

She pleaded with the villainess; told her how much she needed the job.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

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