antihero
noun
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.
antiheroes
-
pluralof antihero.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We are introduced to mortgage-backed securities and to the people who dreamt them up and abused them, antiheroes of the 2007-09 debt debacle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
As the series unfurled, proving to a skeptical entertainment industry that women can be compelling antiheroes too, much of that talk revolved around Byrne.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2026
Now private-equity executives fill the roles of villains or antiheroes in shows like Billions and Succession, the latter providing this bit: “You know how, like, everyone hates you?”
From Barron's ● Dec. 5, 2025
The original NWO, which consisted of “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, were so bad they became antiheroes and immensely popular.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2025
The movie pays homage to the French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville, who specialized in stark crime stories, suffused with ennui and populated by emotionally distant antiheroes.
From New York Times ● Nov. 3, 2023
