vixen

/ˈvɪksn/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɪksɪn] /ˈvɪksn/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɪksɪn] /ˈvik-sən How to pronounce vixen (audio)/ (ame, mw)

vixen — 名詞

  • vixensingular
  • vixensplural

1. an adult female of the fox species — the wild animal with reddish-brown fur, a p

1.名詞B1
釋義

雌狐

狐狸的成年雌性個體

an adult female of the fox species — the wild animal with reddish-brown fur, a pointed face, and a long bushy tail

例句

Karim spotted a vixen leading her cubs across the meadow at dawn.

Karim 在黎明時看到一隻雌狐帶著幾隻小狐狸穿過草地。

vixen + her cubs — mother fox context

Yara found a vixen's den under an old oak and spotted three cubs at the entrance.

Yara 在一棵老橡樹下發現了一隻雌狐的巢穴，還看到三隻小狐狸在洞口。

2. a strongly insulting term for a woman seen as vicious or bad-tempered, often imp

2.名詞C1
釋義

妖婦；悍婦

帶有性魅力且脾氣凶狠的女人

a strongly insulting term for a woman seen as vicious or bad-tempered, often implying that her sexual attractiveness makes her seem more threatening

例句

Neighbours called her a vixen after she shouted at children playing near her flower beds.

鄰居們罵她是悍婦，因為她衝著在花圃旁玩耍的孩子大吼大叫。

call someone a vixen — used as an insult

In the palace drama, the queen is a cold-hearted vixen who poisons all who challenge the crown.

在那部宮廷劇中，皇后是個為了權力不惜毒害反對者的冷血妖婦。

described as a vixen — figurative usage in fiction

同義詞
  • shrew

    focuses on sharp-tongued arguing and scolding, without the sexual-attractiveness subtext

  • harpy

    suggests greed, cruelty, and relentless nagging; less common and more literary

  • termagant

    very old-fashioned; describes a woman who constantly quarrels and bosses others around

反義詞
  • sweetheart

    informal term for a kind, pleasant woman; opposite in tone and intent

  • lamb

    metaphor for a gentle, mild person; the complete opposite of frightening or aggressive

用法筆記

Strongly offensive when used to describe a woman. Unlike many general insults, this word carries a subtext of sexual attractiveness, which makes it especially demeaning — it suggests the woman's power is both dangerous and alluring. Avoid using this term. The literal meaning (sense 1: a female fox) is not offensive.

常見錯誤

❌My boss is a vixen — she is tough but always fair.
✅My boss is tough but fair.
💡Vixen is never a compliment; it always implies bad temper or malice, not just firmness or strength.
❌The puppy is such a little vixen when she steals socks.
✅The puppy is such a little troublemaker when she steals socks.
💡Vixen does not apply playfully to animals or children; it only refers to adult women and is strongly negative.