villain

noun

ˈvi-lən How to pronounce villain (audio)
Definition of villainnext
as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of villain Sue knew Doom in the past and is aware of how the villain lost his family. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 July 2026 That’s until mounting pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him triggers a dangerous change, while a powerful new villain emerges. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 26 July 2026 Unlike many modern blockbusters with a single central villain, nearly every stop on this journey brings a new monster or supernatural threat. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 As this year’s San Diego Comic Con draws to a close, Marvel is collaborating with Hasbro to launch a special lineup of action figures in honor of the universe’s most iconic heroes and villains. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for villain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villain
  1. brute
  2. monster
  3. criminal
  4. devil
  5. savage
  6. offender
  7. scoundrel
  8. beast
Noun
  • Shinnecock was still a brute of a test, but the red numbers on the white scoreboard were an unfamiliar site for this course.
    — Doug Ferguson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • These brutes commonly exceed 50 pounds.
    — Keith Sutton, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026
Definition of brute
Noun
  • Pane and McKay revealed that British actor Simon Pegg will voice the Balrog, a giant demonic monster who helps Sauron forge the One Ring.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Curtis is divorced, and still carries a torch for his ex-wife (Kelsey Scott) — now the governor of Illinois and architect of an innovative monster rehabilitation program with the Candyman (as in the movies) its star participant.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • The detective-heroines (and especially the actress-detectives) in this canon are careful about how performance might be extended to social duplicity, dishonesty, and fraud—but the lady criminals of Victorian detective fiction cross this line easily.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
  • From 1873 to 1991, the island served as Costa Rica’s principal penitentiary, where some of the country’s worst criminals were sent to serve often short and torturous sentences.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 July 2026
Definition of criminal
Noun
  • Daniel isn’t this devil’s only minion; Armand’s got an Illumination movie’s worth of cronies doing his bidding.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • The scene was both serious and strange — after all, this was Vegas and a member of the Satanic temple with black devil horns affixed to the top of his head was waiting for his turn on the microphone.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of devil
Noun
  • Iggy Pop’s eternal lust for life Iggy Pop’s ability to stay shirtless and savage at 79 goes beyond scientific explanation.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Schoolchildren meet veterans from the savage fight in Ukraine.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of savage
Noun
  • Because of his previous felonies, though none for violent crimes, Pfister could now be defined as a habitual offender under Michigan law and faces prison.
    — Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • That’s like staying in the dugout during a bench-clearing brawl after a pitcher plonks a batter, then offering the offender a handshake the next inning.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of offender
Noun
  • And the surviving cartel scoundrels take the parting shot by kidnapping beloved Carter, putting a hood on him and taking the boy off.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • But that just reinforces Samuel Johnson’s adage that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
Definition of scoundrel
Noun
  • With Content London, the London TV Screenings and newer fare like the Creative Cities Convention, along with the soon-to-launch TV Festival in Greater Manchester, the UK TV industry events calendar is a crowded beast.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 July 2026
  • There is a collision, which adoptive mother and newborn survive — but the beast that caused the accident takes another victim.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of beast

Browse Nearby Words

villages
villain
villainess
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Cite this Entry

“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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