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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 In any traditional chase scene, a clear understanding of hero and villain propels the action forward. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026 Joy has done nothing but delight us, so a villain Gen shall become. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026 But Zidar and Zwick are more interested in understanding them than in portraying them as heroes or villains. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026 Especially because the real villain is always Am*zon—the company that pioneered the current, imperfect business model for digital sales in the first place. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 14 Sep. 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
  • Most sportsmen wonder how any whitetail bucks, let alone a brute such as Kontras’, could have been so easily patterned.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The show’s depiction of Hugh as a family man has been much more sympathetic than the book’s description of him as a power-hungry brute.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of brute
Noun
  • What kind of direction was Cregger giving you during the monster fight at the end?
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Based on the popular Capcom video games, Resident Evil stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, an outmatched medical courier who becomes trapped in a monster outbreak in Raccoon City during a single night of chaos and has to try to survive.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • Victims who clicked those ads were redirected to fake banking websites controlled by the criminals, according to the DOJ.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Trump, his family and his wealthy cronies are criminals spending taxpayers’ money and taking it with their underhanded deals with our enemies.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of criminal
Noun
  • Dostoyevsky’s sniveling devil comes closest to portraying the man chiefly responsible for organizing the Final Solution.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In January, Watts was a guest on actor Rainn Wilson’s podcast, where Watts played devil’s advocate to Wilson’s skeptic about casual use of mind-altering substances.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of devil
Noun
  • The Danish director’s Pusher trilogy (which was restored and rereleased last year) had been handheld, hyperrealistic, and savage; Drive, on the other hand, was ethereal and moody, its characters submerged, their delivery precise.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • One of the best Saturday morning traditions during college football season is not only watching ESPN's best program on the network, College Gameday, but seeing the hilarious, savage, and unique signs fans put together each week.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of savage
Noun
  • The law would extend the time that repeat DUI offenders would have their driver’s license suspended from three years to six years.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • More often than not, this audit finds the larger offenders causing the retention problem.
    — Kellie Lauth, Forbes.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of offender
Noun
  • But as with any good Leonard story, the best moments come from the characters, a rogues’ gallery of violent ruffians and neurotic, duplicitous scoundrels.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Hawks is the grounding force of Zero Company, the down-to-Earth scoundrel that keeps everyone humble.
    — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of scoundrel
Noun
  • The name refers to a beast said to identify things simply by listening.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Pro wrestling fans who follow the sport closely know that Angle was a beast in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of beast

Browse Nearby Words

villages
villain
villainess
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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