villainous

adjective

vil·​lain·​ous ˈvi-lə-nəs 

1

a

: befitting a villain (as in evil or depraved character)

a villainous attack

b

: being or having the character of a villain : depraved

the villainous foe

2

: highly objectionable : wretched

villainously adverb

villainousness noun

Synonyms

• bad
• dark
• evil
• immoral
• iniquitous
• nefarious
• rotten
• sinful
• unethical
• unlawful
• unrighteous
• unsavory
• vicious
• vile
• wicked
• wrong

Choose the Right Synonym for villainous

vicious, villainous, iniquitous, nefarious, corrupt, degenerate mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct.

vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

Examples of villainous in a Sentence

villainous behavior that made him one of the most notorious figures in history and gave rise to the legend of Dracula

Recent Examples on the Web

The crimson-haired young punk partners with her roommate, Cinderella's strait-laced daughter Chloe (Malia Baker), on a time-travel mission to stop Red's mom from going down a villainous path. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024

The actor is playing a demented and villainous warlord, which is a far cry from his trademark Thor role. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 13 May 2024

What’s the secret to a really great villainous cackle? —Devan Coggan, EW.com, 11 May 2024

Kevin Durand, the human behind this villainous would-be emperor, is a Canadian star best known for his appearances in The Strain, Lost, Resident Evil: Retribution and opposite Hugh Jackman in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. —Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 10 May 2024

The villainous and utterly despicable producer character of Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) cracks a joke that you guys have gotten some grief over. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024

Presiding over all this, white-haired, scornful and more than usually vicious, is McKellen’s self-serving, nakedly villainous Falstaff. —David Benedict, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

Red must team up with Cinderella’s perfectionist daughter Chloe (Malia Baker) and travel back in time to try to undo the traumatic event that set Red’s mother down her villainous path. —Rivea Ruff, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024

Sarah Michelle Gellar's prep-school puppet master is villainous on a Biblical level. —Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

villainous

adjective

vil·​lain·​ous ˈvil-ə-nəs 

1

: typical of a villain

villainous attacks

also : wicked

a villainous enemy

2

: very objectionable

villainous living conditions

villainously adverb