as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of villain
In a Hungarian cartoon from around 1951, Churchill is seen as an ugly villain, ready to set households and factories on fire.
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Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
Many of its heroes and villains fall into the same archetypes or roles that Blizzard’s characters have made popular with mainstream players.
—Echo Apsey, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
The series follows the lives of two Parisian teenagers, Marinette and Adrien, who transform into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir to protect their city from mysterious villains while navigating the challenges of school, friendships, and secret identities.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Dec. 2024
Various villains come and go, most notably Stu Magnusson (Bradley Whitford), a billionaire who may be involved in Muncie's predicament.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for villain 
Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
Many of its heroes and villains fall into the same archetypes or roles that Blizzard’s characters have made popular with mainstream players.
—Echo Apsey, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
The series follows the lives of two Parisian teenagers, Marinette and Adrien, who transform into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir to protect their city from mysterious villains while navigating the challenges of school, friendships, and secret identities.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Dec. 2024
Various villains come and go, most notably Stu Magnusson (Bradley Whitford), a billionaire who may be involved in Muncie's predicament.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for villain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villain
Noun
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Others claim that the brute was named either for a popular near beer or for a Sunday comic strip about monkeys.Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 17 Nov. 2024
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When searching for reprieve, there’s sanctuary in a movie musical that looks like a Broadway smash, a Colosseum full of vintage brutes, a Harry Styles simile.Raven Smith, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The Giannis Antetokounmpo show was in full effect, as the Greek Freak put up a monster performance with 32 points and 14 rebounds.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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Players play through 10 quests battling monsters, discovering treasure and avoiding traps in the cassic style of game play.Rob Wieland, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Sipping whiskey, a wise devil offers: Advice love, giant love, self love, superstar love, dumb love, trouble love?Jennifer Harlan, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024
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People gather expectantly on the streets or gaze from their windows, and then the performers arrive, all garbed in red devil costumes, complete with horns and pitchforks covered in sparkling fireworks.Matt Ralphs, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Trump has said deportations will focus on criminals first, as immigration enforcement has since former President Barack Obama's presidency.Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
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The film focuses on young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) — who's accidentally left home alone over the holidays — and his clever plans to outwit a pair of criminals trying to rob his home on Christmas Eve.Athena Sobhan, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
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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Nothing more unlovely inhabits the Venetian lagoon, and there’s the rub: the beast is notably loyal to that neighborhood.Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
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How much were humans to blame for driving these beasts to extinction?Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But think like a scoundrel for a second, like Star Wars Outlaws asks you to.Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
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The plot is very old-school Conan Doyle, with scoundrels in sideburns and evil temptresses in gaudy frilly outfits.Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Feb. 2024
Noun
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Guided by Kudrow’s Penelope, the bandits embarked on epic adventures while evil forces were an obstacle.Marc Berman, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
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The bagel at the base of her breakfast bandit has a direct connection to her youth: The dough is prepared daily at A&S Bagels in Franklin Square, N.Y., not far from the streets where Chersevani developed a taste for a bagel and schmear.Tim Carman, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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