big bad
Fearsome story villain
The big bad is the main villain or ultimate antagonist in a story—the central evil force that other threats serve or build toward.
The term comes from fairy tales like "the big bad wolf" but now applies broadly in fiction: The show kept teasing who the season's big bad would be.
Often used in discussions of TV series, video games, and genre fiction where a primary villain drives the plot.
- enemyHostile opposing party
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- worst enemyUltimate personal adversary
- arch nemesisPrincipal long-term antagonist
- wolfWild pack canine
villain · dominator · evil · hostile · nemesis · antagonist · fearsome · tyrant · mastermind · final boss · unfriendly · demon · dark lord · overlord · hulking · foe · Thanos · malevolent
- story tropesquest, hero's journey, plot twist, chosen one, red herring
- Tropeschosen one, hero's journey, red herring, deus ex machina, damsel in distress
big badgentle giant
Large but kindhearted being
benign · innocuous · unthreatening · meek · defenseless
big badhero
One admired for courage
protagonist · the chosen one · white knight · savior · champion