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

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

While some might argue that Murphy is an antihero, Hawke viewed him as an honorable man. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026

The hero, or antihero, of the story is Ichabod Crane, a rather ridiculous-looking schoolmaster who has set his cap for Katrina Van Tassel, the beautiful, coquettish daughter of a wealthy Dutch farmer. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Throughout the first season of Furious, creator Elizabeth Meriwether and company deftly explored the idea of female vengeance, all while making Catherine into a kind of antihero for the ages. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antihero

• superhero
• biro
• spiro
• zero
• subzero