as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
villainous behavior that made him one of the most notorious figures in history and gave rise to the legend of Dracula
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Recent Examples of villainous
Cody seemed to imply a similar scenario where their public view was shaped into a more villainous or misunderstood light following their AEW exit.
—
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Season 2 ended in yet another tie vote, with Love & Hip Hop star Safaree ultimately beating The Challenge alum Wes Bergmann for the win after Big Brother vet Jessie Godderz pulled a villainous move and went back on a handshake deal after making Bergmann get on his knees and beg for his vote.
—EW.com, 28 May 2025
Certainly, the story Leili first told my father was far from villainous.
—Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The new movie takes great care to wind story details from films throughout the franchise into its storyline as Ethan and his team fight to prevent villainous hands from gaining control over the artificial intelligence known as the Entity and potentially destroying the world in the process.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for villainous
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Season 2 ended in yet another tie vote, with Love & Hip Hop star Safaree ultimately beating The Challenge alum Wes Bergmann for the win after Big Brother vet Jessie Godderz pulled a villainous move and went back on a handshake deal after making Bergmann get on his knees and beg for his vote.
—EW.com, 28 May 2025
Certainly, the story Leili first told my father was far from villainous.
—Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The new movie takes great care to wind story details from films throughout the franchise into its storyline as Ethan and his team fight to prevent villainous hands from gaining control over the artificial intelligence known as the Entity and potentially destroying the world in the process.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for villainous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villainous
Adjective
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While Disney hasn’t revealed Starfighter’s plot, THR adds that the film revolves around Gosling’s character protecting a young charge against evil pursuers, one of whom is Goth.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
7 June 2025
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These dedicated warriors certainly earn our admiration in the good/evil binary of the conflict, but complications help give the documentary shape, as in the attention given a crusty logger named Valdir, who agreed to be featured on camera.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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In the age of print, Hamburg was the birthplace of magazine publishing, and Paris the birthplace of the literary review and the gossip rag; but restless, immoral London was where the advice column first transformed people’s private lives into object lessons for ethical behavior.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
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The film gathers immoral cops, ruthless women and corrupt politicians to complete the world of populist cinema based in hinterlands of India.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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She was convicted in 1995 on nine charges, including conspiracy to remove body parts and unlawful authorization of the removal of eyes, hearts, lungs and brains from corpses.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
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Nonetheless, this latest ruling may embolden such plaintiffs in California and elsewhere to assert unlawful discrimination claims with greater confidence and, perhaps, greater frequency.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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There’s a sinful sort of glee in watching all of this unfold, knowing that the same mournful character might be the next one to die.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
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The sinful acts on display here are a direct result of that disenfranchisement, an effort to reclaim what is still owed, forty acres and a mule, with interest.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Republican tax bill could push food assistance in Colorado into a vicious cycle of funding cuts, increasing mistakes in determining eligibility and further funding cuts to punish those mistakes, Gov. Jared Polis warned in a letter to congressional leaders Friday.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
16 June 2025
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Plaschke delivers a vicious uppercut to his opponent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Today's extradition is a giant step forward in holding the defendant accountable for his unspeakably reprehensible and vile efforts to spread fear, chaos, and hate.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Finally, the mint julep is a vile almost undrinkable beverage.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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That’s 663 days between pitching appearances – and 663 days since fans caught a glimpse of his wicked four-seam fastball and splitter.—
Julia Andersen,
CNN Money,
16 June 2025
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To its credit, Seattle responded strongly after the break and pulled one back when Cristian Roldan’s header took a wicked deflection and snuck into the Botafogo net.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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The Republican president, on his 79th birthday, sat in a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and dark clouds shrouded the Washington Monument.—
LOLITA C. BALDOR,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2025
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White, pale blue, gray, and green swimsuits can be some of the hardest swimsuits to spot in a pool, while darker colors, like navy and black, can be difficult to detect in open water.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Villainous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villainous. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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