as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
villainous behavior that made him one of the most notorious figures in history and gave rise to the legend of Dracula
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of villainous
Cody seemed to imply a similar scenario where their public view was shaped into a more villainous or misunderstood light following their AEW exit.
—
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Season 2 ended in yet another tie vote, with Love & Hip Hop star Safaree ultimately beating The Challenge alum Wes Bergmann for the win after Big Brother vet Jessie Godderz pulled a villainous move and went back on a handshake deal after making Bergmann get on his knees and beg for his vote.
—EW.com, 28 May 2025
Certainly, the story Leili first told my father was far from villainous.
—Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The new movie takes great care to wind story details from films throughout the franchise into its storyline as Ethan and his team fight to prevent villainous hands from gaining control over the artificial intelligence known as the Entity and potentially destroying the world in the process.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for villainous
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Season 2 ended in yet another tie vote, with Love & Hip Hop star Safaree ultimately beating The Challenge alum Wes Bergmann for the win after Big Brother vet Jessie Godderz pulled a villainous move and went back on a handshake deal after making Bergmann get on his knees and beg for his vote.
—EW.com, 28 May 2025
Certainly, the story Leili first told my father was far from villainous.
—Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The new movie takes great care to wind story details from films throughout the franchise into its storyline as Ethan and his team fight to prevent villainous hands from gaining control over the artificial intelligence known as the Entity and potentially destroying the world in the process.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for villainous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villainous
Adjective
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While Disney hasn’t revealed Starfighter’s plot, THR adds that the film revolves around Gosling’s character protecting a young charge against evil pursuers, one of whom is Goth.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
7 June 2025
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These dedicated warriors certainly earn our admiration in the good/evil binary of the conflict, but complications help give the documentary shape, as in the attention given a crusty logger named Valdir, who agreed to be featured on camera.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Kudos to Bruce Springsteen for practicing his First Amendment rights to rail against the corrupt policies and immoral actions of the Trump administration.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
30 May 2025
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Independent jurors can blunt the force of immoral laws and arbitrary prosecutions by refusing to subject their neighbors to unjust laws or overtly cruel punishment.—
Mike Fox,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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In 2022, Hemphill pleaded guilty to unlawful parading, a misdemeanor charge that got her two months in prison, three years of probation and a $500 fine.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
4 June 2025
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The man faces one count each of first-degree assault or attempted serious physical injury, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest or detention by fleeing, and second-degree domestic assault.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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There’s a sinful sort of glee in watching all of this unfold, knowing that the same mournful character might be the next one to die.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
-
The sinful acts on display here are a direct result of that disenfranchisement, an effort to reclaim what is still owed, forty acres and a mule, with interest.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There are other objects of worship from the days when Japan’s Christians had to hide from vicious persecution, including a ceramic bottle of holy water from Nakaenoshima, an island where Hidden Christians were martyred in the 1620s.—
Foster Klug,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
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Years before the Kendrick Lamar and Drake imbroglio, Pusha T shared his own vicious diss track against the Canadian hip-hop superstar.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Today's extradition is a giant step forward in holding the defendant accountable for his unspeakably reprehensible and vile efforts to spread fear, chaos, and hate.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Finally, the mint julep is a vile almost undrinkable beverage.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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Robertson has a wicked release and high work rate, scoring 29 goals across the past two seasons despite seeing limited power-play time. 13.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
Silo is a wicked and bingeable slow burn with a tantalizing central mystery.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Its reversible design features dark stripes on one side made of 92 percent wool, 4 percent polyester, and 4 percent cotton, and the opposite side is made from 100 percent cotton in the solid natural color.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
15 June 2025
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The Republican president, on his 79th birthday, sat in a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and dark clouds shrouded the Washington Monument.—
LOLITA C. BALDOR,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Villainous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villainous. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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