supervillain

noun

su·​per·​vil·​lain ˈsü-pər-ˌvi-lən 

plural supervillains

: a fictional villain having extraordinary or superhuman powers

In more recent years, [Jon] Cryer appeared as legendary supervillain Lex Luthor in the CW drama Supergirl.

—Martin Holmens

… the issue will feature Spider-Man facing off against the Sinister Six, which includes supervillains Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Mysterio, Sandman, Electro and Kraven the Hunter …

—Jeremy Childs

also : a person or entity likened to a supervillain

On the show, [Elon] Musk suggests there is a "fast way and a slow way" to raise the temperatures of Mars before sharing the fast way is to "drop thermonuclear weapons over the poles." The idea is greeted by [Stephen] Colbert calling Musk a supervillain, to which Musk just casually responds, "Yeah."

—AJ Dellinger

compare superhero, superheroine

Examples of supervillain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gru, the recovering supervillain turned huggable and lovable dad, is back in action. —Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024

In recent months, the alphas have emerged as TikTok’s newest supervillain, a designation that has followed them into mainstream media. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024

In last week’s episode, Vanderpump Rules supervillain Tom Sandoval was revealed as the Diver, and in earlier episodes Anthony Anderson and Demi Lovato were unmasked. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2023

The series will likely lean heavily into the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, and could even attempt to paint the Yankees as a massive supervillain given their acquisition of Juan Soto during the offseason. —Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2024

He had been set to anchor the next phase of the the lucrative Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise as the supervillain Kang the Conqueror. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2024

Lucy Lawless turns up — because why not? — and seeing the Xena actress beat the crap out of a decidedly predatory Comic Book Guy supervillain is at least a bit cathartic. —Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2023

Disney fired Majors from his role as supervillain Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. —Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024

So for the upcoming sequel to their Oscar-winning 2019 supervillain film Joker, director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Phoenix have recruited none other than Lady Gaga to be the belle of the ball. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above