villainous
Americanadjective
-
having a cruel, wicked, malicious nature or character.
-
of, relating to, or befitting a villain.
villainous treachery.
-
outrageously base, wicked, or vile.
a villainous attack on his character.
-
very objectionable or unpleasant; bad; wretched.
a villainous storm.
adjective
-
of, like, or appropriate to a villain
-
very bad or disagreeable
a villainous climate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of villainous
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at villain, -ous
Explanation
To be villainous is to be evil, wicked, and despicable, like a bad guy in a movie or a villainous bus driver who sees you but doesn’t stop. Villains in stories are the bad guys, like Superman's enemy Lex Luthor or a mobster in a crime movie. Real-life bad people are also called villains, and anything evil is villainous. To murder someone is villainous. To steal a lot of money is villainous. This is a strong word for actions that are deliberately harmful and awful. You can’t be villainous by accident. The opposite of villainous is heroic.
Vocabulary lists containing villainous
Oh, No! Synonyms for "Bad"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Phantom Tollbooth
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
One for the Murphys
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The British actor played the villainous role in the original movie franchise from 2005 to 2011.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
Taylor and Pauly want to set the record straight about rattlesnakes, whose rep as evil or villainous serpents is undeserved, they say.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
The trailer goes on to tease snippets of a toy uprising, meant to take down the increasingly villainous screens.
From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026
Jacob Elordi won best supporting actor for his portrayal of the Monster in "Frankenstein," which also won three technical awards, while Amy Madigan won supporting actress for a villainous turn in horror flick "Weapons."
From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026
Wondering if he were sick I went over to find out--an unfamiliar butler with a villainous face squinted at me suspiciously from the door.
From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
