as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
he plays the role of the duplicitous knave who tries to foil the play's hero
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knave
Many a knave is rich, sleek, and honored, while the just man is poor, hated, and in torment.
—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
How does history distinguish knaves from legendary figures?
—
W.e. Gutman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 July 2025
Human beings are motivated by virtue (knights) or rigid self-interest (knaves), or are passive victims of their circumstances (pawns).
—
Sachin H. Jain,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
How does history distinguish knaves from legendary figures?
—
W.e. Gutman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 July 2025
Human beings are motivated by virtue (knights) or rigid self-interest (knaves), or are passive victims of their circumstances (pawns).
—
Sachin H. Jain,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knave
Noun
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The immigrant-threat frame offers a quicker villain and a simpler solution to persistent social problems such as violent crime.
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The new production will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from their comic book origins to becoming global pop culture icons, battling familiar villains along the way.
Noun
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Shinnecock was still a brute of a test, but the red numbers on the white scoreboard were an unfamiliar site for this course.
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These brutes commonly exceed 50 pounds.
Noun
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But there are lots of potential devils in the details (otherwise there’d be little need for experimental reactors).
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The two vivid soloists were tenor Anthony León as the cocky troubadour and baritone Eleomar Cuello as the cocky devil.
Noun
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Then, one weekend about three years ago, Meledandri called with an idea — a Minion who sets out to make a monster movie.
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The women’s Cloudmonster Shoe fittingly packs a monster-sized amount of cushioning.
Noun
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Ditto Hugh Jackman’s unerring performance — perhaps his finest dramatic work yet — as a savage, unfeeling thug and unrepentant murderer and thief.
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This savage, amoral and unfeeling Robin Hood has been written to invert everything modern fans like about him.
Noun
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Speaking of that last vampire subject, this is also a great episode for Jacob Anderson in the B-plot, as Louis plays the reluctant avenger doing that loveable scoundrel Raglan James’s dirty work in two stand-out action sequences.
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Paxton, meanwhile, is known for being a scoundrel.
Cite this Entry
“Knave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knave. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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