villain

vil·lain

noun \ˈvi-lən\

Definition of VILLAIN

1

: villein

2

: an uncouth person : boor

3

: a deliberate scoundrel or criminal

4

: a character in a story or play who opposes the hero

5

: one blamed for a particular evil or difficulty <automation as the villain in job … displacement — M. H. Goldberg>

Examples of VILLAIN

1. He plays the villain in most of his movies.
2. She describes her first husband as a villain who treated her terribly.
3. Don't try to make me the villain. It's your own fault that you're having these problems.

Origin of VILLAIN

Middle English vilain, vilein, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin villanus, from Latin villa

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to VILLAIN

Synonyms

baddie (or baddy), beast, brute, caitiff, devil, evildoer, fiend, heavy, hound, knave, meanie (also meany), miscreant, monster, nazi, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, reprobate, rogue, savage, scalawag (or scallywag), scamp, scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, wretch

Related Words

villainess; blackguard; criminal, crook, culprit, felon, lawbreaker, malefactor, offender, perp, perpetrator, transgressor; sinner, trespasser, wrongdoer; cad, heel, serpent, snake, viper; bandit, bravo, desperado, outlaw; con, convict, jailbird; assassin, cutthroat, gangster, goon, gunman, hoodlum, hooligan, racketeer, ruffian, thug; rough, rowdy, tough; loser, lowlife, ne'er-do-well, stinker, trash

Near Antonyms

angel, innocent, saint; hero

Rhymes with VILLAIN

billon, Dylan, villein