villainously

adverb

Definition of villainouslynext
as in hatefully
in a mean or spiteful manner the robber villainously snatched the necklace from the old woman's throat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for villainously
  1. despitefully
  2. maliciously
  3. bitterly
  4. wickedly
  5. viciously
  6. malevolently
Adverb
  • In other words, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.
    — Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Definition of despitefully
Adverb
  • During his arraignment a month later, Brown pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
  • Another factor to consider is that the agent acted maliciously, without being instructed to by the researchers.
    — Tim Keary, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of maliciously
Adverb
  • Congressional Republicans are headed into the home stretch ahead of a crucial midterm election year bitterly divided over their competing legislative priorities.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • There were riots, protests and a bitterly divisive war in Vietnam that looked intractable.
    — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
Definition of bitterly
Adverb
  • This is a wickedly precise rendering of a young, self-destructive heroine worshiping at the altar of a false idol—and narrated in hindsight, from her later, more perspicacious vantage.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
  • But the real coup is Dippold's command of tone, deftly pivoting between nightmarish, surreal, wickedly funny, and soul-stirring modes, sometimes within single scenes.
    — Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
Definition of wickedly
Adverb
  • Enzo Fernandez, who already was booked for a first-half yellow card, viciously tackled Spanish defender Pau Cubarsí.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
  • Yet somehow, two decades later, the viciously antisemitic Vichy regime planted itself in power; a shocking betrayal by France of some of its most loyal and generous supporters, in a dehumanizing toxic swamp of suspicion, judgment, envy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of viciously
Adverb
  • Images of Labubus beamed malevolently from their packaging, as if gloating in their unreachability.
    — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
Definition of malevolently
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.

Browse Nearby Words

villainous
villainously
villainousness
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Cite this Entry

“Villainously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villainously. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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