antihero

[an-tee-heer-oh, an-tahy-]

noun

plural

antiheroes 

1. a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose, and the like.

antihero

/ ˈæntɪˌhɪərəʊ /

noun

1. a central character in a novel, play, etc, who lacks the traditional heroic virtues

Other Word Forms

• antiheroism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of antihero¹

First recorded in 1705–15; anti- + hero

Example Sentences

Many of my favorite series — “Mad Men,” “The Sopranos,” “Breaking Bad” — revolve around antiheroes.

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The original NWO, which consisted of “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, were so bad they became antiheroes and immensely popular.

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Hodge also describes this Riri as more of an antihero because she has the potential to land on either side of the hero/villain line based on the choices she makes.

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He makes Chishiya an antihero without concern, even when the stakes could mean his death.

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Georgia has emerged one of the more entertaining, cunning and inventive antiheroes of the 2020s.

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Related Words

• bad guy 
• baddie 
• baddy www.thesaurus.com
• criminal 
• devil 
• scoundrel 
• sinner