henchmen
Loyal criminal underlings
Henchmen is the plural of henchman—a loyal follower who carries out orders, often unsavory ones.
The word almost always appears in contexts of villainy or corruption: a crime boss's henchmen, a dictator's henchmen.
The supervillain dispatched his henchmen to capture the hero.
The singular henchman exists but the plural dominates, perhaps because villains rarely travel with just one.
Servile subordinate
- lackeyServile follower or minion
- flunkyServile subordinate
- stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
- underlingPerson of lower rank
pawn · follower · sidekick · hanger-on · toady · yes-man · errand boy · foot soldier
Crime's willing helper
- conspiratorOne planning in secret
- gangsterCriminal organization member
- mobsterOrganized crime member
- thugViolent criminal
hoodlum · outlaw · enforcer · hitman · mafioso · racketeer · crook · goon
One who ensures compliance
- bodyguardPaid personal security agent
- bouncerVenue entrance enforcer
- bruiserLarge, intimidating fighter
- toughDurable and strong
strongman · heavy · thug · goon · hired muscle · strong-arm · brawler · intimidator
Wicked story antagonist
- evilProfound moral wickedness
- lairAnimal's hidden dwelling
- superheroPowered champion against evil
- comic bookBound illustrated story publication
horde · masked · disposable · nameless · faceless · uniformed · expendable · army
Consistently loyal and true
- devotedLoyally and lovingly attached
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
- unquestioningAccepting without challenge
trustworthy · reliable · dependable · sworn · dutiful · subservient · allegiant · true
minion
Servile subordinate
underling · pawn · follower · sidekick · hanger-on · toady · yes-man · errand boy · foot soldier · right-hand man
accomplice
Crime's willing helper
- conspiratorOne planning in secret
- gangsterCriminal organization member
- mobsterOrganized crime member
thug · hoodlum · outlaw · enforcer · hitman · mafioso · racketeer · crook · goon · operative
enforcer
One who ensures compliance
- bodyguardPaid personal security agent
- bouncerVenue entrance enforcer
- bruiserLarge, intimidating fighter
tough · strongman · heavy · thug · goon · hired muscle · strong-arm · brawler · intimidator · guard
villain
Wicked story antagonist
comic book · horde · masked · disposable · nameless · faceless · uniformed · expendable · army · swarm
faithful
Consistently loyal and true
- devotedLoyally and lovingly attached
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
unquestioning · trustworthy · reliable · dependable · sworn · dutiful · subservient · allegiant · true · committed
- action clichesexplosion, car chase, one-liner, slow motion, shootout
- underlingsunderling, underlings, subordinate, minions, minion
- villainsvillain, antagonists, Darth Vader, evil characters, Joker
- thugsthugs, goons, heavies, toughs, brutes
- oppressorstyrants, despots, dictators, autocrats, authoritarians
- James Bond007, James Bond, Ian Fleming, MI6, Q
henchmenmastermind
Scheme's chief planner
boss · leader · kingpin · crime lord · overlord
henchmenheroes
Admired courageous figures
good guys · defenders · protectors · champions · freedom fighters
henchmenfree agents
Athletes available for signing
lone wolves · independents · mavericks · rebels · rogues