bad guy
noun
1
informal
: the villain in a story : baddie
played the bad guy in the movie
2
informal
: someone who is likened to the villain in a story: such as
a
: a criminal
Designed to keep guns out of the hands of bad guys and children …—
Popular Science
Popular Science
b
: a military enemy
… a decision that owes more to parochial conflicts within the Armed Forces than to doing the best job of surveilling bad guys.—Stuart F. Brown
Stuart F. Brown
c
: someone who deserves to be blamed or criticized for causing a bad situation
Meanwhile, it's the environmentalists who are now portrayed as the bad guys, hiring lots of lawyers, consorting with congressmen …—Eric Alterman
Eric Alterman
d
: a person who treats other people harshly or strictly : a person who says or does unpopular things
Parenting isn't just about having beautiful kids and being busy. It's about dealing with problems, and your success as a parent depends on your willingness to be the bad guy. If you aren't willing to be the bad guy, you shouldn't be a parent.—Roy Bragg
Roy BraggExamples of bad guy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hogan also famously wrestled for WWE competitor World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the 1990s, turning heel (wrestling parlance for bad guy) and becoming Hollywood Hulk Hogan as a member of the New World Order (NWO).
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 26 July 2025
Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo have come a long way from chasing down bad guys on NCIS.
—Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 24 July 2025
Malkovich would have appeared in a part of the film that showcased the heroes' earliest bad guys, including the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes.
—Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
There’re some bad guys looking to get to the center of the earth for a magical McGuffin that can grant any wish, and for mysterious reasons, Pauline’s the key.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bad guy
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Joe Otterson, Variety, 26 July 2025
Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo have come a long way from chasing down bad guys on NCIS.
—Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 24 July 2025
Malkovich would have appeared in a part of the film that showcased the heroes' earliest bad guys, including the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes.
—Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
There’re some bad guys looking to get to the center of the earth for a magical McGuffin that can grant any wish, and for mysterious reasons, Pauline’s the key.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bad guy
Cite this Entry
“Bad guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bad%20guy. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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