bad guys
Heroes' narrative foils
Bad guys are the villains or antagonists in a story, game, or conflict—the ones opposing the heroes.
The term is informal and often playful, suggesting a simple moral division: The bad guys always lose in the end.
In real-world contexts, it can refer to criminals, enemies, or anyone perceived as the opposition: We're trying to keep the bad guys out.
- evildoersThose who do wrong
- malefactorOne who does harm
- criminalsLawbreakers by act
- crime bossesLeaders of criminal organizations
- villainsEvil characters in narratives
thugs · miscreants · antagonists · arch nemesis · wrongdoer · ne'er-do-wells · blackguards · bandits · outlaws · wanted men · scoundrels · antiheroes · felons · crooks · public enemy · desperados · nemesis · knaves
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
- Get Smartshoe phone, cone of silence, 86, Siegfried, catchphrase
moral alignment in narrative
bad guysgood guys
Morally righteous characters
heroes · protagonists · white hats · champions · saviors