Professor Moriarty

Professor Moriarty is the criminal mastermind and archenemy of Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories.

Described as the "Napoleon of crime," he operates as a mathematics professor while secretly controlling London's criminal underworld.

The character has become a literary archetype for the brilliant villain who matches wits with a hero, and his name is sometimes invoked to describe any shadowy figure orchestrating schemes from behind the scenes: He fancied himself a Professor Moriarty, pulling strings no one could see.

villain

antagonist

One who opposes another

foe · mastermind · evil genius · malefactor · schemer · conspirator · puppet master · kingpin · crime lord · spider

Holmes

Sherlock

Iconic Victorian-era investigator

Watson · nemesis · confrontation · cat and mouse · pursuit · Conan Doyle · consulting detective · Victorian London · deduction · sworn enemy

intellect

genius

Person of rare brilliance

strategist · polymath · prodigy · cunning · acumen · erudition · scholar · academic · theoretician · calculating

archetype

fictional character

Imaginary person in stories

behind the scenes · influence · adaptations

crime

underworld

Realm of the departed

blackmail · extortion · smuggling · forgery · murder · assassination · network · syndicate · racketeering · robbery

Categories
Opposites
moral alignment in detective fiction

Professor MoriartySherlock Holmes

Dr. Watson · Hercule Poirot · Miss Marple · Father Brown · Batman

criminal vs. law enforcement

Professor MoriartyScotland Yard

London police headquarters

Interpol · detective · lawman · crime-fighter · investigator

archetypal villain vs. hero

Professor Moriartyhero

One admired for courage

protagonist · savior · defender · champion · knight in shining armor

Family

professor, professors, profess, professes, professed, professing, profession, professions, professional

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG