as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of villain
KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game share a villain, with Korean actor Lee Byung-hun playing a bad guy in both projects.
—
Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
The game is a gonzo Kojima production through and through, tonally whipping between self-serious conversations about the nature of war and patriotism, and villains who can shoot lighting from their hands or morph into a swarm of bees.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
Advertisement Imrie, Mirren, Ackie, Brosnan, and Kingsley work to solve a murder Courtesy of Netflix
David Tennant plays a sharp, sleazy villain.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Aug. 2025
Temuera Morrison plays a terrific villain as the murderous King Kahekili.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for villain
Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
The game is a gonzo Kojima production through and through, tonally whipping between self-serious conversations about the nature of war and patriotism, and villains who can shoot lighting from their hands or morph into a swarm of bees.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
Advertisement Imrie, Mirren, Ackie, Brosnan, and Kingsley work to solve a murder Courtesy of Netflix
David Tennant plays a sharp, sleazy villain.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Aug. 2025
Temuera Morrison plays a terrific villain as the murderous King Kahekili.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for villain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villain
Noun
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But Madsen was born to be the Lee Marvin of the 1990s — the kind of laconic brute who spoke softly and carried a sharp straight-razor.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
3 July 2025
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The novel is often rhapsodic about its alpha brutes, but, toward the end, Frey turns the tables.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
17 June 2025
Noun
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His monster homer finally gave the Red Sox some room after a frustrating offensive game in which Boston stranded 14 men on base and went 3-for-19 with runners in scoring position.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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Items still needed: large play mats, luggage, dolls, toy monster trucks Scampini Linn said she feels affirmed by the generosity of her community.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Two other devils were transferred to the Los Angeles Zoo and came on the same flight.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Aug. 2025
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One nun's habit was adorned with giant devil's horns.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
President Trump's bold leadership will restore our nation's capital by creating opportunities for businesses to flourish without fear of criminals looting and destroying their property.—
Theo Burman
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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In the original series, Dexter was a forensics technician who targeted the most heinous of criminals.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Often regarded by historians as a collection of savage tribes, the Scythians emerge as a pivotal force of the ancient world in this monumental history.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2023
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Nearly 32 years ago, Rodney King’s savage beating by police in Los Angeles prompted heartfelt calls for change.—
Aaron Morrison, Claudia Lauer and Adrian Sainz,
Anchorage Daily News,
29 Jan. 2023
Noun
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As the Xenomorph is about to kill him, Wendy attacks the beast with a hook.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The redistricting was then lampooned in a political cartoon, showing the districts in the shape of a winged mythical beast.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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That scoundrel Chief Trouthands lived and died for his people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
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For more than two millennia, the promise of alchemy—and, specifically, transmuting ordinary elements into valuable ones—has intrigued scientists and scoundrels alike.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Each episode will see the heroes explore new lands — from glittering mining mountains to secret vault cities — solving puzzles, cracking codes and outsmarting digital bandits along the way.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
20 Aug. 2025
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The pair manage to do some serious damage, and after a chaotic melee, one of the bandits is revealed to be Zoe.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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