as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of villain
The incident was a lighthearted moment for the man who is currently the most hated and cunning villain in WWE.
—
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
He’s just starred as the vast, insatiable villain Galactus opposite Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, currently sitting atop $230 million at the global box office.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
Long known as a villain to Batman, Clayface was semi-successful actor in the comics.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2025
Robbie became the first person to portray DC Comics villain Harley Quinn in live-action for the 2016 Suicide Squad film, bringing the complicated character to life with red and blue-dipped pigtails.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for villain
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
He’s just starred as the vast, insatiable villain Galactus opposite Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, currently sitting atop $230 million at the global box office.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
Long known as a villain to Batman, Clayface was semi-successful actor in the comics.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2025
Robbie became the first person to portray DC Comics villain Harley Quinn in live-action for the 2016 Suicide Squad film, bringing the complicated character to life with red and blue-dipped pigtails.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for villain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villain
Noun
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But Madsen was born to be the Lee Marvin of the 1990s — the kind of laconic brute who spoke softly and carried a sharp straight-razor.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
3 July 2025
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The novel is often rhapsodic about its alpha brutes, but, toward the end, Frey turns the tables.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
17 June 2025
Noun
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Power Rangers uh, have fought monster bugs…sometimes?—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The luxury, 387-room hotel, located in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills complex, is collaborating with the Nintendo, the parent company of Pokémon, to give its fans the ultimate respite this summer: a few nights surrounded by their favorite pocket monsters.—
Jalyn Robinson,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One nun's habit was adorned with giant devil's horns.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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This habit of playing devil’s advocate 24/7 isn’t always malicious—or even intentional.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Saturday Night Live alum, 31, and Beverly Hills Cop actor, 64, star in the action-comedy The Pickup as Travis and Russell, two security guards whose vehicle is hijacked by Zoe (Keke Palmer), a criminal on a mission to avenge her dad by robbing a casino.—
Rebecca Aizin,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Neighborhoods where residents get out and meet each other and know their law enforcement are safer and discourage criminals — that’s the thinking behind the National Night Out campaign.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Often regarded by historians as a collection of savage tribes, the Scythians emerge as a pivotal force of the ancient world in this monumental history.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2023
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Nearly 32 years ago, Rodney King’s savage beating by police in Los Angeles prompted heartfelt calls for change.—
Aaron Morrison, Claudia Lauer and Adrian Sainz,
Anchorage Daily News,
29 Jan. 2023
Noun
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The previous version of the immersive attraction brought guests face to face with the terrifying flickering TV screen, the menacing beast from beyond, and the pool filled with floating corpses.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Just below the horizon, but headed our way, is the rough beast John Lithgow, his hour come 'round at last.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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For more than two millennia, the promise of alchemy—and, specifically, transmuting ordinary elements into valuable ones—has intrigued scientists and scoundrels alike.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
9 Aug. 2025
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Star Wars Outlaws This first open world Star Wars game is set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and follows scoundrel Kay Vess seeking freedom and a new life.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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An anonymous tipster called police to say the bandits were trying to sell their loot less than a mile away, and gave the cops Hussein’s Instagram handle, according to court filings.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
12 Aug. 2025
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Industrialists like Rockefeller and Carnegie weren’t worried about horseback bandits; their focus was on land rights, freight monopolies and who controlled the rails.—
Jodi Daniels,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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