as in brutes
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom
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Recent Examples of villains
Yet if the Dodgers are to be cast as villains from the Book of Samuel, Toronto brought to the fight far more than pebbles.
—
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
For the 2017 Dress to Be Free Halloween Party at House of Yes in New York City, Cardi B went as one of Disney's most notorious villains.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
However, what's even more ingenious in setting them apart from other horror villains is how the killer offs their victims by using the rules of horror films against them.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Social media is abuzz with rumors that Disney theme parks might not keep villains around the parks year-round and would instead be relegated to the Halloween season.
—James Factora, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
The villains are utterly sincere and deranged, vicious and human.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Still, the Expos' downfall is not without its villains.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Kang then reposted Lee’s post along with a thumbs up emoji, effectively lending her support to folks from all backgrounds dressing up as these charismatic heroes and villains.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
One reason for audience disinterest is that Evil AI villains have already been around for decades.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
For the 2017 Dress to Be Free Halloween Party at House of Yes in New York City, Cardi B went as one of Disney's most notorious villains.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
However, what's even more ingenious in setting them apart from other horror villains is how the killer offs their victims by using the rules of horror films against them.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Social media is abuzz with rumors that Disney theme parks might not keep villains around the parks year-round and would instead be relegated to the Halloween season.
—James Factora, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
The villains are utterly sincere and deranged, vicious and human.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Still, the Expos' downfall is not without its villains.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Kang then reposted Lee’s post along with a thumbs up emoji, effectively lending her support to folks from all backgrounds dressing up as these charismatic heroes and villains.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
One reason for audience disinterest is that Evil AI villains have already been around for decades.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villains
Noun
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An extermination of the brutes in the Middle East, presided over by Obama’s successors, has been followed by a swift cancellation by Trumpian decree of the postracial age.—
Pankaj Mishra,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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Some are slow and heavy brutes that have tons of health while others are slightly but deal more damage.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The project — which chronicles the adventures of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group comprising three members who just happen to also fight monsters from the underworld — has been a surprise hit for the streamer, and its soundtrack has spent several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
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Based on legal proceedings and real investigations, The Monster of Florence revisits one of Italy’s darkest chapters through the eyes of those accused over the years—the possible monsters—exposing how hysteria and speculation blurred the line between truth and myth.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
To suggest that another candidate’s supporters are criminals — particularly when that candidate is, by all measures, poised to win at least a plurality of votes in the city — does not seem like a recipe for earning New Yorkers’ support.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Binance also lacked protocols — standard for financial services companies — to report transactions for money laundering risks, according to the Justice Department, and employees were well aware that such an oversight would invite criminals to the platform.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The anime series follows a young man who can demolish fellow devils via a pullstring in his chest that transforms parts of his body into chainsaws.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Whether or not Alice lived happily ever after, Gertrude seems to have done so, at least once her devils were banished by inscrutability.—
Judith Thurman,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
All colors change under different lights, but white is one of the biggest offenders due to its highly reflective quality.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
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This approach will ensure that this tool is aimed at giving the worst offenders a financial incentive to operate by the same set of rules as the rest of us.—
Wes Burdine,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These are the grifting savages who’ve shown their gratitude to hard-working Americans who rescued them from their primitive native lands by robbing us blind while calling us racists and demanding even more handouts.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
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Shortly after the museum opened on Sunday morning, two bandits used a lift on a truck to break into its Galerie d'Apollon, which houses the French crown jewels and other treasures, through a second-floor window.—
NPR,
NPR,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Why no mumblings of atonement for the predatory nature of capitalism itself, its core values and standard operating procedures no different from those of the beasts in the field?—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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The project recently won a Red Dot Design Award and miniature models of the giant beasts are on display at Singapore's Red Dot Museum until October 2026, where they can be viewed in more detail.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Villains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villains. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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