as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Well, Peter is, in essence, the villain.
—
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Jamie Campbell Bower, who played Vecna, has become the show’s defining villain.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
The 34-year-old, who is set to become the youngest New York City mayor in more than a century, and the first Muslim to serve in that office, has become a star with progressives — and a villain among conservatives.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), once the villain of the subprime meltdown, are surging in popularity as homebuyers look for savings in a high-rate era.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for villain
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Jamie Campbell Bower, who played Vecna, has become the show’s defining villain.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
The 34-year-old, who is set to become the youngest New York City mayor in more than a century, and the first Muslim to serve in that office, has become a star with progressives — and a villain among conservatives.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), once the villain of the subprime meltdown, are surging in popularity as homebuyers look for savings in a high-rate era.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for villain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villain
Noun
-
Among the colorful cast of rogues, villains, queens and clergymen, Andre The Giant stands out as the young suitor’s kind-hearted but stupid brute.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
-
An extermination of the brutes in the Middle East, presided over by Obama’s successors, has been followed by a swift cancellation by Trumpian decree of the postracial age.—
Pankaj Mishra,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Live Super Bowl odds NFC heavyweights Week 10’s action closed with the Philadelphia Eagles gutting out a defensive monster against the Green Bay Packers in Monday Night Football.—
Hannah Vanbiber,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Personality goes a long way for the smiliest of all Frankenstein monsters.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In other court cases, some civil and some criminal, involving a total of nearly 300 additional hectares near Vlora, Shehu and his family members are accused of grabbing property through similar forgeries.—
Lindita Cela,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The trio has a surprisingly good theory about the implosion of the makeshift Astral Pulse; seems like Shroud never found the original, and someone has been outfitting low-level criminals with bootlegs that are going awry like Robert’s.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Its depictions of dancing devils and witches’ sabbaths are supposed to scare viewers straight, but writer-director Benjamin Christensen is also sympathetic towards the plight of medieval women persecuted for witchcraft.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The anime series follows a young man who can demolish fellow devils via a pullstring in his chest that transforms parts of his body into chainsaws.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Eleonora wearing a snake, Nicole’s Reputation hair from earlier in the season, the use of the word savage constantly and from out of nowhere.—
Anne Victoria Clark,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
-
That savage is now incarcerated for impregnating his own underage daughter.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Conversely, the percentage of respondents who think juvenile offenders should be treated like adults has fallen from 65% in 2000 to a record-low 41% this year, the report said.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
10 Nov. 2025
-
East Lansing's ordinance states that anyone found in violation will be issued a $25 fine for first time offenders.—
Eric Guzmán,
Freep.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
These twin influences, religious fervor and a preoccupation with dangerous men, would go on to define the next six decades of the director’s working life, finding expression as a conviction that even scoundrels are in possession of a soul.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
-
It’s scorned Donald, who saw that scoundrel Lee leaving his mistress’s house this morning.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who’s been ripped in half by the very beast that Dek has come to kill.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Now, Alesta is determined to destroy the beast that took her friend from her by traveling to Hell.—
Brittany Johnson,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share