heroine
Story's brave woman
A heroine is a woman admired for courage, noble qualities, or outstanding achievements.
The term also designates the central female character in a story, film, or play—the one whose actions drive the narrative: Elizabeth Bennet is the heroine of Pride and Prejudice.
The word parallels hero but specifies female gender; in contemporary usage, hero increasingly covers both.
Gaining authority or confidence
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- idolObject of worship
- legendaryFamous beyond ordinary measure
- admirableDeserving high regard
influential · uplifting · charismatic · visionary · pioneering · resilient · determined · formidable
Dense metal, symbol Pb
- centralIn the middle, primary
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- narrativeAccount of events
- storylineSequence of fictional events
arc · journey · fiction · novel · film · drama · role · persona
Unverified traditional tale
- goddessFemale sacred being
- AthenaGreek wisdom deity
- ArtemisGreek hunting goddess
- AtalantaFleet-footed mythic heroine
Boudicca · Mulan · Durga · Freyja · Scheherazade · mythology · epic · saga
Early explorer or settler
- innovatorCreator of new methods
- groundbreakerInnovator, first to act
- reformerAgent of institutional improvement
- pathfinderOne who discovers routes
forerunner · vanguard · revolutionary · catalyst · game-changer · first · activist · advocate
Courage in danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- fearlessLacking any apprehension
- undauntedCourageously persistent despite difficulty
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
bold · intrepid · daring · audacious · dauntless · fortitude · lionhearted · selfless
Adult female state
- femininityFemale nature or character
- sisterhoodBond among women
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- matriarchFemale family leader
queen · goddess · maiden · lady · amazon · shieldmaiden · warrioress · huntress
empowerment
Gaining authority or confidence
admirable · influential · uplifting · charismatic · visionary · pioneering · resilient · determined · formidable · idolized
lead
Dense metal, symbol Pb
storyline · arc · journey · fiction · novel · film · drama · role · persona · viewpoint
legend
Unverified traditional tale
Atalanta · Boudicca · Mulan · Durga · Freyja · Scheherazade · mythology · epic · saga · quest
pioneer
Early explorer or settler
- innovatorCreator of new methods
- groundbreakerInnovator, first to act
- reformerAgent of institutional improvement
pathfinder · forerunner · vanguard · revolutionary · catalyst · game-changer · first · activist · advocate · crusader
valor
Courage in danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- fearlessLacking any apprehension
- undauntedCourageously persistent despite difficulty
gallant · bold · intrepid · daring · audacious · dauntless · fortitude · lionhearted · selfless · resolute
womanhood
Adult female state
- femininityFemale nature or character
- sisterhoodBond among women
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
matriarch · queen · goddess · maiden · lady · amazon · shieldmaiden · warrioress · huntress · empress
- leading roleslead role, leading role, lead actor, lead actress, leading man
- notable figurespolitical leaders, historical figures, dignitary, luminary, presidents
- protagonistsprotagonist, main character, lead role, leading man, leading lady
- female rolesleading lady, main character, romantic lead, final girl, damsel
- good peoplesaint, do-gooder, humanitarian, altruist, philanthropist
- female archetypesfemme fatale, ingenue, diva, leading lady, girl next door
heroinevillainess
Evil female character
villain · antagonist · bad guy · nemesis · femme fatale
- heroic taleStory of great deeds
- heroic questsCourageous journeys seeking greatness
- heroic battlesFights requiring great bravery
- heroic deedsCourageous acts of valor
- heroic epicsLong poems about legendary champions
- heroic sacrificeDying to save others
heroic, heroism, heroically, heroines, antiheroine, superheroine