as in villains
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
the actor has never been cast as a hero, but he's played every kind of baddie imaginable
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Recent Examples of baddies
In his films, there are no baddies, and yet the stories work so well.
—
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
Her assignment is to track down and capture various Imperial baddies still running around who threaten to ignite another war with the New Republic.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Naturally, trouble spoils the crew’s relaxation in the form of an ocean princess named Yura (Allegra Clark; Saoiri Onishi) on the run from baddies Zodon (Christopher Corey Smith; Koichi Domoto) and Djeese (Yuri Lowenthal; Koji Yusa).
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 1 May 2026
Whatever could those big baddies be doing?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
And there are a slew of new candidates for the blood cannon in Ready or Not 2, whose baddies are a more wide-ranging lot than the Le Domases, the game-company-owning clan that Grace (Samara Weaving) is unfortunate enough to marry into in the original Ready or Not.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
One of Marvel's most compelling baddies, Jordan's portrayal of the scarred warrior earned him an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
—Ken Simmons, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Calling on all baddies, calling on all baddies.
—Gia Peppers, VIBE.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
Her assignment is to track down and capture various Imperial baddies still running around who threaten to ignite another war with the New Republic.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Naturally, trouble spoils the crew’s relaxation in the form of an ocean princess named Yura (Allegra Clark; Saoiri Onishi) on the run from baddies Zodon (Christopher Corey Smith; Koichi Domoto) and Djeese (Yuri Lowenthal; Koji Yusa).
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 1 May 2026
Whatever could those big baddies be doing?
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
And there are a slew of new candidates for the blood cannon in Ready or Not 2, whose baddies are a more wide-ranging lot than the Le Domases, the game-company-owning clan that Grace (Samara Weaving) is unfortunate enough to marry into in the original Ready or Not.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
One of Marvel's most compelling baddies, Jordan's portrayal of the scarred warrior earned him an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
—Ken Simmons, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Calling on all baddies, calling on all baddies.
—Gia Peppers, VIBE.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baddies
Noun
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Similarly, Sage’s (Susan Heyward) reverse heel turn and Ashley’s (Colby Minifie) life-saving assistance in the West Wing are apparently good enough deeds to spare these savory villains a more commensurate sentence.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
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Staying true to what Rosen said about the show’s absence of clear villains, Flynn agreed that his cam boy may not be a typical bad guy.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Noun
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That’s happened in several Mid Atlantic rivers, but in the absence of larger brutes like blues and flathead, channels will thrive and can break the 15-pound mark.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
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In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the series, while visiting Japan on the ultimate foodie adventure, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy unwittingly unleash hundreds of mythical monsters that are causing trouble across the country.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
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When Jade reaches the room with the slabs, the monsters come and put him in what appears to be a kind of grave in the center of the room.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
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When unhoused people are treated as criminals, they are pushed into an identity of exclusion rather than belonging.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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That’s the job of law enforcement, who make arrests, judges who sentence criminals to pay for their crimes, and a parole board that cares about public safety.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baddies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baddies. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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