villainizing
Casting as antagonist
Villainizing is portraying someone or something as a villain—casting them as the bad guy in a narrative.
The term often carries a note of unfairness, suggesting the portrayal is exaggerated or undeserved: The media keeps villainizing him without evidence.
Politicians villainize opponents; diet culture villainizes certain foods.
Also spelled villainising.
Spreading by rubbing
- slanderingMaking false damaging statements
- demonizingPortraying as evil
- vilifyingMaliciously disparaging someone
- denigratingCriticizing to damage reputation
disparaging · discrediting · tarnishing · besmirching · blackening · defaming · libeling · character assassination
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- targetObject of pursuit
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- fall guyOne blamed for others
- patsyEasily deceived victim
whipping boy · black sheep · outcast · culprit · accusation · finger-pointing · deflection · misdirection
smearing
Spreading by rubbing
- slanderingMaking false damaging statements
- demonizingPortraying as evil
- vilifyingMaliciously disparaging someone
denigrating · disparaging · discrediting · tarnishing · besmirching · blackening · defaming · libeling · character assassination · mudslinging
blame
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
patsy · whipping boy · black sheep · outcast · culprit · accusation · finger-pointing · deflection · misdirection · persecution
antagonist
One who opposes another
fiend · evil · wicked · sinister · malevolent · nefarious · diabolical · heinous · vile · corrupt
villainizingheroizing
Exalting as courageous
glorifying · lionizing · venerating · exalting · praising
villainizingdefending
Protecting against harm
vindicating · championing · exonerating · rehabilitating · absolving
villainizingjustifying
Proving to be reasonable
excusing · rationalizing · absolving · exonerating · pardoning
villain, villainy, villainous, villains, supervillain, villainess, villainize, villainized, archvillain