villainous

adjective

vil·​lain·​ous ˈvi-lə-nəs How to pronounce villainous (audio)
Synonyms of villainousnext
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 of villainous

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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
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.
As written by Nattiv and co-writer Noa Berman-Herzberg, Ricki is certainly not a savior, but her aims are also not wholly villainous. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026 The rollout quickly sparked debate online, with some Steelers fans arguing the villainous cat is a perfect representation of the city's blue-collar attitude. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Rumors have circulated that Stan may be playing Harvey Dent, the district attorney who eventually becomes the villainous Two-Face and was previously portrayed by Aaron Eckhart, Tommy Lee Jones, and Billy Dee Williams. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 Speaking of singing pirates, Curry clearly fancied these kinds of roles, signing on to play the villainous Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Brian Henson’s musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel. — ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for villainous

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of villainous was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

villainize
villainous
villainously
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Cite this Entry

“Villainous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/villainous. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

villainous

adjective
vil·​lain·​ous ˈvil-ə-nəs How to pronounce villainous (audio)
1
: typical of a villain
villainous attacks
also : wicked
a villainous enemy
2
: very objectionable
villainous living conditions
villainously adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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