mean girl
Cruel popular teen
A mean girl is a female, typically a teenager, who uses social manipulation, exclusion, and indirect aggression rather than physical confrontation.
The type became a recognized category after the 2004 film *Mean Girls*: She runs with the mean girls at school.
The term captures a specific style of cruelty—gossip, cliques, backhanded compliments, freezing people out.
- cattySlyly spiteful
- cliqueyTending toward exclusive groups
- bullyHabitual intimidator
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- intimidateInstill fear to control
silent treatment · meanie · fake friend · schemer · snobbish · vindictive · manipulative · ostracism · shaming · sabotaging · antagonist · belittling · queen bee · ice queen · superiority complex · ringleader · plastics · hateful
- adolescencepuberty, teenager, coming-of-age, growing up, teen
- stock charactersvillain, sidekick, hero, damsel in distress, fool
- female archetypesfemme fatale, ingenue, diva, leading lady, damsel in distress
- gender stereotypesboys will be boys, blue for boys, man up, strong men, women drivers
- bad girlsbaddie, villainess, she-devil, troublemaker, rebel
- bulliesbully, intimidator, tormentor, tormenter, harasser
mean girlpeacemaker
Conflict resolution agent
sweetheart · sweet girl · nurturer · loyal friend · empath
mean, girl, means, meant, meaning, meaningful, meaningless, meanly, meanness