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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.

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. 7, 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

There was a villainess, also in love with the handsome young minister, and out to get the heroine.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

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