CultureJuly 6, 2026
antiheroine
/ˈæntiˌhɪəroʊɪn/
Definition
A central female character in a story who lacks traditional heroic qualities, such as moral uprightness or courage, often facing an inevitable downfall due to changing times.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek prefix 'anti-' (against) and 'heroine,' the feminine form of 'hero.' The term was adopted into English to describe characters whose flaws or moral ambiguities contrast with the idealized figures of classical storytelling.
In the news
The article uses Norma Desmond from the film Sunset Boulevard as an example of an antiheroine who was ultimately rendered obsolete by a shift in cultural technology.
How Lizzo Became One of Pop Culture’s Great Flops
Read the full article ↗The Atlantic