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superhero

[ soo-per-heer-oh ]

/ ˈsu pərˌhɪər oʊ /

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See synonyms for: superhero / superheroes on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural su·per·he·roes.

a morally righteous hero in a fictional work who possesses extraordinary abilities or supernatural powers and uses them to fight evil, as in comic books and movies: Many classic superheroes wear masks to maintain their secret identities.

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What Do The Names Of Our Favorite Superheroes Mean?

We love superheroes. Without them, there would be no one to fight crime in ... leotards and capes! And we have to admit, they have pretty cool names, too. Who wouldn't want the nickname Spidey? But have you ever wondered what their names really mean?

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Origin of superhero

First recorded in 1895–1900; from French super-héros

Words nearby superhero

superharden, superheat, superheavy, superheavyweight, superhelix, superhero, super-heroine, superhet, superheterodyne, superheterodyne receiver, superhigh frequency

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use superhero in a sentence

As the pioneer of two gigantic genres — the swashbuckler and the superhero movie — “The Mark of Zorro” earned its entry into the National Film Registry in 2015.
Zorro at 100: Why the original swashbuckler is still the quintessential American action hero|Michael Sragow|January 1, 2021|Washington Post
When he watched the now-famous “No Man’s Land” scene, when Wonder Woman makes her superhero introduction on a World War I battlefield, “I remember being very aware that I was having an emotional experience to an action sequence,” he said.
For Pedro Pascal, this is the way to play a villain when you’re also the coolest hero in the galaxy|David Betancourt|December 26, 2020|Washington Post
The studio had already announced a similar policy for the superhero blockbuster “Wonder Woman 1984,” which will hit big and small screens on Christmas Day — a decision that many considered a one-off.
Did Warner Bros. just kill movie theaters? Not by a long shot.|Ann Hornaday|December 4, 2020|Washington Post
Prowse said the most satisfying period of his acting career was the years he spent playing the Green Cross Code Man, a cape-wearing superhero who warns children to follow safety rules when crossing streets.
David Prowse, English actor and weightlifter who embodied Darth Vader, dies at 85|Louie Estrada|November 29, 2020|Washington Post

Think of this system as your own personal team of superheroes.
Explainer: What are Antibodies?|Avery Elizabeth Hurt|July 24, 2020|Science News For Students
Now Jena Malone is 30, and with roles in Inherent Vice, The Hunger Games, and a massive superhero film, all the rage.
Jena Malone’s Long, Strange Trip From Homelessness to Hollywood Stardom|Marlow Stern|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it is particularly galling to watch the feminist superhero be treated in such a way.
Wonder Woman Takes a Big Step Back|Hugh Ryan|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Brash, crass, and overflowing with wiseass attitude, he remains the ultimate postmodern superhero.
The King of Postmodern Cool Is Reborn in ‘Ash Vs. The Evil Dead’|Nick Schager|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Brash, crass, and sporting a perpetually raised eyebrow, Ash Williams remains the ultimate postmodern superhero.
The King of Postmodern Cool Is Reborn in ‘Ash Vs. The Evil Dead’|Nick Schager|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A conservative coloring book publisher is out with a new title imagining the tea party heartthrob as a bona fide superhero.
Ted Cruz saves America in This Right-Wing Coloring Book|Asawin Suebsaeng|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For this is the secret of the soul: when the hero hath abandoned it, then only approacheth it in dreams—the superhero.
Thus Spake Zarathustra|Friedrich Nietzsche

British Dictionary definitions for superhero

superhero

/ (ˈsuːpəˌhɪərəʊ) /

noun plural -roes

any of various comic-strip characters with superhuman abilities or magical powers, wearing a distinctive costume, and fighting against evil

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012