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villainess

[ vil-uh-nis ]

/ ˈvɪl ə nɪs /

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noun

a villainous woman.

QUIZ

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Origin of villainess

First recorded in 1580–90; villain + -ess

usage note for villainess

See -ess.

Words nearby villainess

villagization, Villahermosa, villa home, villain, villainage, villainess, villainize, villainous, villainy, Villa-Lobos, villanella

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use villainess in a sentence

In the past, her character has tended toward the two-dimensional: the chilly villainess.
Game of Thrones’ Ep. 5 'First of His Name' Recap: An Ode to the Women of Westeros|Andrew Romano|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jackson was cast as the villainess—the “mastermind” of this whole bloated controversy.
Super Bowl’s ‘Nipplegate’ Fiasco 10 Years Later: The Pop Diva, the Boob, and the Outrage|Marlow Stern|February 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Able to convey a sinister, menacing presence without going over-the-top villainess?
Game of Thrones’ Creative Gurus|Jace Lacob|August 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST
And the heart-beats were not calmed, for Marise recognised the contralto tones of Miss Marks, the villainess of her dream.
Vision House|C. N. Williamson

If the villainess were a blonde, the gallery would take her for the heroine, and things would get terribly mixed.
Her Royal Highness Woman|Max O'Rell
She had a faint accent, which made her sound like a tiny, skinny Bond villainess.
Makers|Cory Doctorow
Of course these matters may be important—if the lady is the villainess, for instance.
The Lure of the Pen|Flora Klickmann
Thus we took up our parts of (alleged) villain and villainess.
The Heather-Moon|C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson