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
Who is the villain of Avengers: Doomsday? While the Infinity Saga revolved around Thanos (Josh Brolin) as the main villain, the Multiverse Saga will debut Doctor Doom as the big bad in Avengers: Doomsday.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 26 July 2025
When the big bad of the movie—a planet-eating giant named Galactus—sets his sights on Earth as his next snack, the Fantastic Four fly to space to try to negotiate.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 25 July 2025
Even its own big bad, the Distortus rex, a massive mutant dino with a set of extra limbs and a bulbous forehead more suited to an extraterrestrial, is underwhelming.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 June 2025
So, if the Punisher part of the rumor is true, the question is whether or not the rest of it is, and Hulk really may be the big bad in Spider-Man 4.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for big bad
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Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 26 July 2025
When the big bad of the movie—a planet-eating giant named Galactus—sets his sights on Earth as his next snack, the Fantastic Four fly to space to try to negotiate.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 25 July 2025
Even its own big bad, the Distortus rex, a massive mutant dino with a set of extra limbs and a bulbous forehead more suited to an extraterrestrial, is underwhelming.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 June 2025
So, if the Punisher part of the rumor is true, the question is whether or not the rest of it is, and Hulk really may be the big bad in Spider-Man 4.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
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 4 Aug. 2025.
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