big bad
noun
variants
or Big Bad
plural big bads or Big Bads
: a major villain or antagonist (as in a movie, show, or game)
When Ursula, the story's big bad, took to the screen, I would run behind the entertainment center and cover my eyes, a fact my mom loves to remind me about whenever she gets the chance.—
KT Hawbaker
KT HawbakerAs the show [Buffy the Vampire Slayer] aged, the Big Bads became more dangerous and the lessons more adult, but Buffy never gave up …—Kaitlin Thomas
Kaitlin ThomasThe Big Bad this time around is the wind mage Vaati, who has captured Zelda, and it's your quest to defeat him and prevent the unholy union of princess and evil eyeball-blob-thing.—Tony Ponce
Tony PonceExamples of big bad in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet the show’s big bads are scrumptiously diabolical.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 May 2026
And indeed, a few scenes later, in his first fight of the tournament, Cole faces off against the big bad Shao Khan.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 12 May 2026
With the big bad bully on the Western Conference block, the Edmonton Oilers, getting sent home early from the big dance, coupled with Marner's stellar play, Vegas could find its way back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since winning it all three seasons ago.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Even the climactic revelations, including the confrontation with the story's big bad, feel hurried.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for big bad
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Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 May 2026
And indeed, a few scenes later, in his first fight of the tournament, Cole faces off against the big bad Shao Khan.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 12 May 2026
With the big bad bully on the Western Conference block, the Edmonton Oilers, getting sent home early from the big dance, coupled with Marner's stellar play, Vegas could find its way back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since winning it all three seasons ago.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Even the climactic revelations, including the confrontation with the story's big bad, feel hurried.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for big bad
Cite this Entry
“Big bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20bad. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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