protagonists
Story's central figures
Protagonists is the plural of protagonist—the central characters in stories, dramas, or conflicts.
A novel might have dual protagonists; a political struggle might pit multiple protagonists against each other.
The word extends beyond fiction: The protagonists of the civil rights movement faced enormous opposition.
In looser usage, protagonist means any leading figure or advocate.
One admired for courage
- heroineBrave female protagonist
- saviorOne who rescues another
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- defenderOne who guards another
guardian · warrior · knight · paladin · rescuer · liberator · protector · vindicator
Account of events
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- arcCurved line segment
- journeyTravel from place to place
- sagaExtended heroic narrative
epic · tale · fiction · novel · drama · screenplay · narrator · storytelling
Story's central figure
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- starLuminous astronomical object
- central figurePrimary person in focus
- principalChief school administrator
headliner · anchor · linchpin · figurehead · frontman · marquee · leading role · title character
Increase in size
- transformationThorough change in form
- changeTo make different
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
arc · journey · becoming · self-discovery · awakening · realization · redemption · progression
Ordinary representative person
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- chosen oneProphesied special individual
- reluctant heroOne who resists their calling
- antiheroMorally ambiguous main character
tragic hero · trickster · mentor · orphan · outcast · rebel · seeker · innocent
hero
One admired for courage
defender · guardian · warrior · knight · paladin · rescuer · liberator · protector · vindicator · crusader
story
Account of events
saga · epic · tale · fiction · novel · drama · screenplay · narrator · storytelling · adventure
main character
Story's central figure
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- starLuminous astronomical object
- central figurePrimary person in focus
principal · headliner · anchor · linchpin · figurehead · frontman · marquee · leading role · title character
growth
Increase in size
- transformationThorough change in form
- changeTo make different
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
maturation · arc · journey · becoming · self-discovery · awakening · realization · redemption · progression · adaptation
everyman
Ordinary representative person
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- chosen oneProphesied special individual
- reluctant heroOne who resists their calling
antihero · tragic hero · trickster · mentor · orphan · outcast · rebel · seeker · innocent · warrior
- girls fictionheroines, girl power, schoolgirls, princesses, coming-of-age
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
- literaturebooks, book, fiction, poetry, stories
- character typeshero, villain, heroes, antihero, villains
- YA booksyoung adult fiction, dystopian, fantasy, romance, coming-of-age
- charactershero, character, characters, villain, heroine
protagonistsantagonists
Opponents in conflict
villains · adversaries · opponents · enemies · nemeses
protagonistsvictims
Those who suffer harm
pawns · bystanders · spectators · onlookers
- child protagonistYoung central figure
- female protagonistMain woman in narrative
- teenage protagonistsAdolescent central characters
- villain protagonistEvil main character
- male protagonistsMain male characters
- romantic protagonistsMain characters who fall in love