villainous

adjective

ˈvi-lə-nəs How to pronounce villainous (audio)
Definition of villainousnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective villainous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of villainous are corrupt, degenerate, iniquitous, nefarious, and vicious. While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

When is corrupt a more appropriate choice than villainous?

While the synonyms corrupt and villainous are close in meaning, corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

When is it sensible to use degenerate instead of villainous?

The synonyms degenerate and villainous are sometimes interchangeable, but degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

When might iniquitous be a better fit than villainous?

The words iniquitous and villainous can be used in similar contexts, but iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

In what contexts can nefarious take the place of villainous?

The words nefarious and villainous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

Where would vicious be a reasonable alternative to villainous?

Although the words vicious and villainous have much in common, vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of villainous And when Lord Penwood dies, the villainous step-mother informs poor Sophie that her father left her no inheritance, and to survive, Sophie must become a maid in the Penwood house. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026 Ashton Kutcher, who leads the cast of The Beauty as a villainous tech billionaire, shares two kids with his wife of over 10 years, Mila Kunis. —Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026 Roper returns as his villainous heir, Teddy (played by the very watchable Diego Calva), is juggling a secret arms shipment for his undercover army. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2026 Shakespeare humanizes the Elizabethan stage stereotype of the villainous Jew by giving Shylock ample reason for wanting to get back at his Christian persecutors. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for villainous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villainous
  1. evil
  2. immoral
  3. unlawful
  4. sinful
  5. vicious
  6. vile
  7. wicked
  8. dark
Adjective
  • Or a family battling an evil monster.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Five years ago, Mamdani argued that the New York Police Department was essentially evil and should have its budget deeply slashed.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of evil
Adjective
  • The long-term damage that an unqualified, incompetent, compromised or immoral — but superpowered — mayor can inflict on the city is too great.
    — Steven Falk, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Tourism dollars flowed in, even if the prettified Southern history being sold ignored the immoral plague that built its riches in the first place.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • The British government’s designation of Palestine Action as a terror group has been deemed unlawful by London’s High Court.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Lawsuits hamper National Guard deployments Every deployment except the one in New Orleans has faced significant legal challenges, with multiple judges ruling the mobilizations unlawful.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • His father, who believes Sammie's music to be sinful, orders him to drop the guitar, but Sammie can't do it.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Gettin’ sinful all of a sudden.
    — David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Definition of sinful
Adjective
  • Catherine’s brother Hindley, a vicious bully whose abuse is part of what drives Cathy and Heathcliff so closely together, is cut entirely, his role combined with Catherine’s father.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Everyone is fair game for her vicious tongue.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • How heartbreaking, and how vile, that any adult claiming compassion would seek to imbue a child with that extreme allergy to their own self.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The Diary again casts its eye far and wide for news, any news, that might distract us all from the vile toxicity emanating from Washington—make that Davos.
    — Chop Choppish Shop, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
Definition of vile
Adjective
  • The winds that kick up this time of year proved wicked.
    — Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Mimics tells the story of Sam, a struggling impressionist who makes a pact with a wicked puppet.
    — Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of wicked
Adjective
  • The activist also went full glam on her flight, looking radiant in bronzy makeup, complete with dark eyeliner, fluttery eyelashes, fluffy eyebrows, luminous skin, and glossy lips.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
  • More dark, romantic beauty inspiration.
    — Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of dark

Browse Nearby Words

villainies
villainous
villainously
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Cite this Entry

“Villainous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villainous. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of villainous for Spanish Speakers

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