antihero

noun

an·​ti·​he·​ro
ˈan-tē-ˌhē-(ˌ)rō,
ˈan-ˌtī- How to pronounce antihero (audio)
-ˌhir-(ˌ)ō
plural antiheroes
: a protagonist or notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities
antiheroic
ˌan-tē-hi-ˈrō-ik
ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce antihero (audio)
adjective

Examples of antihero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Not to spoil the movie for anyone, but there’s at least one more classic Justice League member in the mix, along with one of the fiercest — and funniest — antiheroes in the DC Universe. Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025 Cooper is set to portray a teenage Heathcliff, the novel’s antihero whose all-consuming rage affects those around him. Giana Levy, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025 But its sympathy for its aggrieved antihero feels very current. Katie Rife, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025 Before Dean Moriarty in On the Road and James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause, there was Meursault, the nihilistic antihero of Albert Camus’ first novel, The Stranger (L’étranger), and one of modern culture’s original bad boys. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for antihero

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antihero was in 1714

Cite this Entry

“Antihero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antihero. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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