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
Just a few degrees warmer and Dexter would be as dead as all the villains he’s killed in the past.
—
Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2025
The pair play Superman and villain Lex Luthor in James Gunn's new movie.
—Emlyn Travis Updated, EW.com, 10 July 2025
Two of the game’s most brilliant villains have matured into eloquent eulogists.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025
For an industry which has long been treated by the television and film industries as a dirty, dangerous business run by unethical, cartoon-ish villains like J.R. Ewing, such a balanced portrayal is a welcome change, indeed.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for villain
Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2025
The pair play Superman and villain Lex Luthor in James Gunn's new movie.
—Emlyn Travis Updated, EW.com, 10 July 2025
Two of the game’s most brilliant villains have matured into eloquent eulogists.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025
For an industry which has long been treated by the television and film industries as a dirty, dangerous business run by unethical, cartoon-ish villains like J.R. Ewing, such a balanced portrayal is a welcome change, indeed.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for villain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villain
Noun
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This freshly re-imagined Jag is worlds apart from that old German brute, but was similar in the sense of feeling wonderfully light and responsive, and utilizing hydraulic fluid to power its steering.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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Cops released surveillance photos of a trio of brutes wanted for punching, repeatedly stabbing and robbing a man on a Bronx train last month.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Call of Cthulhu flipped a lot of gaming conventions on their head with characters that degraded over time and scenarios that rewarded fleeing monsters instead of slaying them.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
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Murphy also ordered the feds to provide the monsters with interpreters and counsel.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Assign someone to challenge ideas or play devil’s advocate.—
Elizabeth Freedman,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Like, Mars is a character, kind of like a devil on my shoulder.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
27 June 2025
Noun
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But with this bill, Republicans are laying the groundwork to gut safeguards that stopped criminals from getting these deadly weapons.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
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Recently, however, the technology has been used by criminals for purposes of sextortion.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
5 July 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 beasts were spotted at around 11:30 a.m. near Beach 32nd Street.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
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That's because, even though restaurants can be unpredictable beasts, food and labor are largely considered to be controllable costs.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Alyn, much like Spiranac, gets her share of social media scoundrels in her mentions.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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The series, to be teased at Disney’s Upfronts presentation on Tuesday, portrays women helping women to leave their cheating, scoundrel husbands.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2025
Noun
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To make matters even worse, snow pirates, survivalists, bandits, the colonial military force NEVEC, and other factions are fighting over land and resources.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
27 June 2025
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But the project is also right at home for Laika, as it’s set in a secret forest just outside of Laika’s home in Portland and follows a girl whose baby brother is taken into the forest, only to discover an exotic world of talking animals and bandits.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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