antiheroic

American  

[an-tee-hi-roh-ik, an-tahy-] / ˌæn ti hɪˈroʊ ɪk, ˌæn taɪ- /

adjective

1. (of a protagonist) possessing the characteristics of an anti-hero.

2. (of a literary work) having an antihero as its protagonist.

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Etymology

Origin of antiheroic

First recorded in 1875–80; anti- + heroic

Example Sentences

In-jokes fly fast and furious — as do adamantium claws and tart asides — as the antiheroic mashup doubles down on fandom, not plot, character or catharsis.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2024

Those with a high tolerance for antiheroic political thrillers will have no problem watching it — or figuring out its overall plot well before it’s revealed.

From Washington Post • Oct. 29, 2020

But “Pierre” calls out to the grown-ups too — especially Melville lovers, who will see that Sendak borrowed the title from the subversive, antiheroic novel that followed “Moby-Dick.”

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2019

Instead, Morad exposes these worshippers of military masculinity as almost parodically antiheroic.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2018

Case in point: last year’s Logan, which easily had the best depiction of Hugh Jackman’s antiheroic Wolverine, despite his hideous crimes of the past.

From The Guardian • Jan. 30, 2018