villainous
Americanadjective
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having a cruel, wicked, malicious nature or character.
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of, relating to, or befitting a villain.
villainous treachery.
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outrageously base, wicked, or vile.
a villainous attack on his character.
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very objectionable or unpleasant; bad; wretched.
a villainous storm.
adjective
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of, like, or appropriate to a villain
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very bad or disagreeable
a villainous climate
Other Word Forms
- nonvillainous adjective
- nonvillainously adverb
- nonvillainousness noun
- unvillainous adjective
- unvillainously adverb
- villainously adverb
- villainousness noun
Etymology
Origin of villainous
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.
Hegseth flippantly employed villainous colloquialism – “they are toast and they know it,” “we play for keeps,” and “President Trump got the last laugh” – delivered with a combative tone that communicated masculine self-assurance.
From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026
“The Secret Agent,” set primarily in 1977, centers on Moura’s character Marcelo, who goes into hiding because a villainous businessman wants to kill him.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026
But in her way are Amy Madigan for her wacky villainous turn in "Weapons" and Ariana Grande for her portrayal of Glinda in the blockbuster "Wicked: For Good."
From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026
He offers insightful reflections on playing dark, villainous roles, with cute details—like how one of his favorite parts was Long John Silver in “Muppet Treasure Island.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
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.
