bad actor

noun

1. a mean, ill-tempered, troublemaking, or evil person.

2. a vicious animal.

3. an inveterate criminal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bad actor¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Related Words

• convict 
• crook 
• culprit 
• felon 
• fugitive 
• gangster 
• hoodlum 
• hooligan 
• lawbreaker 
• mobster 
• offender 
• thug