as in brutes
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom
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Recent Examples of villains
The next big bad in Jared Leto's motley crew of sinister screen villains has finally been announced.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
For others, deep cuts are remembering the names of random Ninja Turtle villains.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024
Monica compiled nine quotes the other villains had said about West, Larsa and New York, and the three of them need to match those quotes to who said them.
—Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Oh, did the villains not like being played aggressively with?
—Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Cultural differences of the region, like a vast foaming, bubbling cauldron, spit out heroes and villains, legends and lore.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Some of the most cathartic K-dramas include the least sympathetic characters, and Marry My Husband had some of the year’s best villains, allowing viewers to project frustration, anger, and hate onto fictional characters.
—Kayti Burt, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
The universe was populated by Spider-Man’s villains and allies, but not the web-slinger himself.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Sony still had the film rights to multiple Spider-Man villains and side-characters, and thus, went to work building its own universe.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
For others, deep cuts are remembering the names of random Ninja Turtle villains.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024
Monica compiled nine quotes the other villains had said about West, Larsa and New York, and the three of them need to match those quotes to who said them.
—Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Oh, did the villains not like being played aggressively with?
—Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Cultural differences of the region, like a vast foaming, bubbling cauldron, spit out heroes and villains, legends and lore.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Some of the most cathartic K-dramas include the least sympathetic characters, and Marry My Husband had some of the year’s best villains, allowing viewers to project frustration, anger, and hate onto fictional characters.
—Kayti Burt, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
The universe was populated by Spider-Man’s villains and allies, but not the web-slinger himself.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Sony still had the film rights to multiple Spider-Man villains and side-characters, and thus, went to work building its own universe.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villains
Noun
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But even as the ways criminals use ransomware are set to evolve, the actual makeup of the technology isn’t expected to change too drastically in the coming years.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
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The regulation, which would require small businesses to disclose the identity of people who directly or indirectly own a control a company, is designed to prevent criminals from hiding illicit activity conducted through shell companies or opaque ownership structures, the Treasury said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In particular, bail reform policies that let low-level offenders back on the streets were repeatedly blamed for the rash of crimes.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
5 Mar. 2025
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Sanctuary means anyone who is the victim of a crime or witness to crime should report it to the police and fully cooperate in the investigation to arrest and prosecute the offenders without worrying that an immigration problem will be the result of coming forward.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The film itself lacks much of the original’s charms (here, the dogs don’t speak), and John Hughes’ so-so script borrows heavily from his earlier film Home Alone, right down to the two fumbling bandits (Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams, playing Cruella’s henchmen).—
Staff Author,
EW.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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Meanwhile, the prince has his own group of seven bandits, in which people with dwarfism are represented.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Rather, these heavenly beasts feast on material that orbits too close, like this unfortunate star that scientists have watched being swallowed for the last decade (the longest black-hole meal ever recorded).—
Sidney Stevens,
Treehugger,
14 Mar. 2025
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So, naturally, there is going to be interest among tourists and residents of where these nautical beasts roam, no matter how rare attacks really are.—
Kim Luciani,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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An hour ago, the stocky British actor best known on these shores for playing tough guys and gangsters was on a morning talk show, after having chatted with Jimmy Fallon the previous evening.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2025
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Plus, the coffers of gangsters will rise.—
Walter E Block,
Orange County Register,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Director also trains young girls to be ballerina-assassins, and one young ballerina (played by Unity Phelan) is shown rehearsing in the scene.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
19 Mar. 2025
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For some reason, filmmakers have long been of the opinion that hired assassins are just like us, worried about such things as getting older and job security.—
Frank Scheck,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Villains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villains. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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