antihero

noun

an·​ti·​he·​ro ˈan-tē-ˌhē-(ˌ)rō  ˈan-ˌtī- 

-ˌhir-(ˌ)ō

plural antiheroes

: a protagonist or notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities

antiheroic

ˌan-tē-hi-ˈrō-ik, 

ˌan-ˌtī- 

adjective

Examples of antihero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plenty of fiction, across eras, does better, too, pushing us toward complex victims and villains, from the protagonists of Shakespeare’s tragedies to the classic antiheroes of cable TV. — Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026

At the time, there were four other actors in consideration to play the titular antihero of the DC Universe body horror thriller. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026

The antihero adaptation earned another $19 million overseas from 76 markets for a global tally of $43 million. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026

And yet the movie’s central storyline hints at writer-director Bassam Tariq’s inclination to subvert his own brooding-antihero saga, allowing room for unpredictability and the slightest whiff of impish irreverence. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antihero

• superhero
• biro
• spiro
• zero
• subzero