as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of villain
With stunning action set pieces, a delightfully wicked villain (Javier Bardem), and a surprisingly emotional through-line featuring M (Judi Dench), Skyfall resonated for casual moviegoers as much as diehard Bond devotees.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
The upcoming chapter of the manga is one of the most highly anticipated in its history, as the possible final villain of the story, Imu, is about to take center stage against Luffy and his pirate crew.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
The Skywalker Saga might have been disappointing, but Maul's criminal empire is a way better fate for the Sith Lord than becoming the star villain of his own trilogy.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
But there’s a difference between being a true villain and just being the team everyone wants to beat.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for villain
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
The upcoming chapter of the manga is one of the most highly anticipated in its history, as the possible final villain of the story, Imu, is about to take center stage against Luffy and his pirate crew.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
The Skywalker Saga might have been disappointing, but Maul's criminal empire is a way better fate for the Sith Lord than becoming the star villain of his own trilogy.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
But there’s a difference between being a true villain and just being the team everyone wants to beat.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for villain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villain
Noun
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The psychology that Bryk wrote for these young men is the key as to why these brutes are more lovable than unbearable.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
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Bay Hill was a brute before the round was halted for just over an hour because of heavy rain.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Labubus, which look like monsters with big eyes, sharp teeth and fur, went viral in 2025, appearing on backpacks, purses and other bags all over social media.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
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Universal Studios Hollywood visitors will be cast as extras in a monster movie that goes off the rails when a villainous character known as The Phantom Director unleashes Universal Monsters such as Frankenstein, Dracula and the Wolf Man during the park’s Universal Fan Fest Nights.—
Jeffrey Miller,
Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Cyber criminals linked to Iran have accessed FBI Director Kash Patel's personal email account, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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That convenience also gives criminals a perfect disguise.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Is chocolate devil’s food cake with ganache your favorite birthday cake?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
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Its theme — that the rich are different, and in not-good ways — meant she’d be forced into a ritualistic game of hide-and-seek, running for her life from her devil-worshipping, masters-of-the-world in-laws.—
Michael Ordoña,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This one just happens to involve wizards, goblins, and one savage, half-blind dragon.—
Séamas O'Reilly,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
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Just as all British became painted as corrupt as part of their national character, so too did all Native people become seen as savage by their biological nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Holmes qualified for the reduced term under a 2023 rule change allowing first-time offenders to do less time for some non-violent crimes, according to an order issued Thursday by the federal judge who sentenced her in 2022 for defrauding investors in her blood-testing startup.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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And many Democrats see it as an effort to curb more liberal prosecutors who have embraced restorative justice policies, including steering nonviolent offenders away from prison sentences or taking more lax approaches to drug offenses.—
Riley Bunch,
AJC.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Sure, the Oscar-winning makeup helps transform the actor into Cheney, but the voice and petulance are all Bale, whose conjuring of this scoundrel ought to trigger PTSD for anyone who survived the Dubya years.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
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Political leaders who encourage or tolerate such scoundrels should be driven from office.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Big Dipper is the brightest part of the beast.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
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Even with the Hornets in the midst of one of the best stretches in franchise history and the city gravitating toward full-fledged acceptance and happiness, the test that stood before them was a beast.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villain. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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