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
Subsequent toy lines added more sci-fi elements and introduced Evil-Lyn, Teela’s counterpart; Faker, He-Man’s villainous clone; and Tri-Klops and Trap-Jaw, Skeletor’s assistants, among others.
—
Sanat Pai Raikarall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
The voice cast is impressive — Glenn Close as the villainous and morally bankrupt Freida Pilkington is a treat, along with Steve Buscemi, Kathleen Turner and more.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
The cast also includes Matthias Schoenaerts, as the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills, and Jason Momoa — Aquaman in the old DCEU — as Lobo.
—Mark Meszoros, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for villainous
Sanat Pai Raikarall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
The voice cast is impressive — Glenn Close as the villainous and morally bankrupt Freida Pilkington is a treat, along with Steve Buscemi, Kathleen Turner and more.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
The cast also includes Matthias Schoenaerts, as the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills, and Jason Momoa — Aquaman in the old DCEU — as Lobo.
—Mark Meszoros, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for villainous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villainous
Adjective
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There’s a strong sense that Feito’s novel got more mileage out of such questions as who is truly sane or insane and whether evil exists in all of us.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
-
The Gunslinger versus the evil Rancher (or space crime syndicate bosses, as the case may be).—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Each side views members of the other party not as merely having a different view on politics but rather as evil or immoral.—
James Piazza,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Pope Francis changed the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.—
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As a result of the operation, 22 were arrested on charges that included affray, possession of narcotics, resisting without violence, and unlawful possession of a weapon.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
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Kelly was indicted on one count each of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and unlawful imprisonment and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.—
Janelle Griffith,
PEOPLE,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bowing down and worshiping an idol is sinful.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
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Efficiency is religion, and turnovers are almost sinful.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Another thankless gig leads Ben to Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), a nightclub singer with ties to Brendan Gleeson‘s Silvermane, a vicious mobster engaged in an increasingly heated conflict with the city’s mayor (Michael Kostroff).—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
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There are the victims, their families, and lives left shattered because of a single person’s vicious wrath.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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The land of the southern hemisphere pulled away from this vile impactor, restructuring itself in the northern hemisphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
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Fleeing Salzburg and his father’s (Jonathan Aris) iron fist and emphasis on perfection, Mozart, armed with his compositions, vile language and impulsivity, is determined to take on the city.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Daisy Ridley's Rey is wicked smart and a capable hero in a universe with the baddies of the First Order on the warpath.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
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As Thompson reveals, Lean grew up Quaker and was forbidden from seeing movies, which were considered wicked.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Baha Mar is large in stature, sure—and Rosewood is part of a three-hotel complex across the bay from Atlantis, which looms large and brooding over its own end of the water as everything Baha Mar does not want to be—dated, dark, and reminiscent of Spring Break Past.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
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Also fascinating were their contrasting likenesses, dark against light housed in the same being, a human eclipse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Villainous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villainous. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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