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
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Recent Examples of villain
The complexity of individuals – the truth that heroes could commit bad acts and that villains could at times be redeemed – was seared into Foxman from childhood.
—
Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Tels turned villain 24 minutes later when his high foot was adjudged to have made contact with Ethan Ampadu’s head.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
The villain-combo movie would put the breathing-apparatus Batman baddie, Bane, back on screen for his first appearance since 2012’s Christopher Nolan-directed The Dark Knight Rises, then portrayed by Tom Hardy.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 8 May 2026
Huang plays the villain Lee Chang, unrecognizable beneath blond hair and blue eyes.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for villain
Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Tels turned villain 24 minutes later when his high foot was adjudged to have made contact with Ethan Ampadu’s head.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
The villain-combo movie would put the breathing-apparatus Batman baddie, Bane, back on screen for his first appearance since 2012’s Christopher Nolan-directed The Dark Knight Rises, then portrayed by Tom Hardy.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 8 May 2026
Huang plays the villain Lee Chang, unrecognizable beneath blond hair and blue eyes.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for villain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villain
Noun
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Oscillating between a bumbling brute and an ironic ignoramus, Marvel Studios sees the God of Thunder more like the God of Blunder, kicking out the knees of the steady 2011 film in favour of single-digit IQ humour.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
6 May 2026
-
This time the closing hole was a brute, the toughest at Harbour Town on Sunday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Who’s the best monster in (contemporary) literature?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 May 2026
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This midrange offering includes high-quality audio, advanced noise-cancelling tools, monster battery life, and is comfortable to wear for hours and hours.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
Noun
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However, Connecticut Citizens Defense League President Holly Sullivan told Fox News Digital that statewide Democrats chose to go after law-abiding citizens instead of criminals by passing this piece of legislation.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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Immigration policy is destroying the lives of families, not criminals.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
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This is the aforementioned devil’s chair.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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And, yes, there is a literal devil in this one, which won’t be a surprise to anyone familiar with LaValle’s novel.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Why did 12-year veteran Maden and 14-year veteran Algerio savage longstanding body camera policies?—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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My first indication of danger came when a savage gust of wind hit us broad side.—
Jim Hoagland,
Outdoor Life,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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My office will continue to work alongside law enforcement partners like the Antioch Police Department to hold armed offenders accountable and pursue justice on behalf of all those harmed.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
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Lawrence Reed is a lifetime offender who was put on an ankle monitor.—
Michael Tobin,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
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New Orleans has long been notorious for embracing such scoundrels, a reputation that isn’t exactly helped by the fact that, for many years, disgraced attorneys who lost their licenses in Louisiana and applied for readmission to the bar often got it.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Sure, the Oscar-winning makeup helps transform the actor into Cheney, but the voice and petulance are all Bale, whose conjuring of this scoundrel ought to trigger PTSD for anyone who survived the Dubya years.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The sturgeon is an armored beast of a fish that has abided on this planet for at least 120 million years.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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Countless cultures have imprinted their own cultural beliefs in the constellations, seeing mighty heroes, fantastic beasts and eclectic objects in the stars.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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