villains
Heroes oppose them
Villains is the plural of villain—characters who oppose the hero or commit evil acts.
In fiction, villains drive conflict: The villains in Bond films are memorably eccentric.
Outside storytelling, villain labels someone responsible for harm or trouble: History's villains include tyrants and war criminals.
The word can be playful: You villain, you ate the last cookie.
Serious crime perpetrator
- outlawFugitive from justice
- gangsterCriminal organization member
- mobsterOrganized crime member
- thiefOne who steals
robber · burglar · kidnapper · assassin · hitman · smuggler · pirate · bandit
Crafty, deceitful planner
- plotterMachinator or diagram machine
- puppeteerPerformer controlling jointed figures
- manipulatorOne who controls cunningly
- architectBuilding design professional
strategist · overlord · kingpin · crime boss · evil genius · supervillain · mastermind · ringleader
Professional fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- deceiverOne who tricks others
fraud · grifter · scoundrel · rogue · knave · rascal · cheat · hustler
felon
Serious crime perpetrator
thief · robber · burglar · kidnapper · assassin · hitman · smuggler · pirate · bandit · highwayman
schemer
Crafty, deceitful planner
- plotterMachinator or diagram machine
- puppeteerPerformer controlling jointed figures
- manipulatorOne who controls cunningly
architect · strategist · overlord · kingpin · crime boss · evil genius · supervillain · mastermind · ringleader · orchestrator
con artist
Professional fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
deceiver · fraud · grifter · scoundrel · rogue · knave · rascal · cheat · hustler · snake
malevolent
Harboring ill will
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
diabolical · depraved · vile · heinous · monstrous · fiendish · dastardly · corrupt · cruel · sadistic
nemesis
Persistent source of ruin
rival · opponent · enemy · antihero · foil · threat · menace · oppressor · tyrant · bully
- kids' bookschildren's literature, storybooks, picture books, easy readers, bedtime stories
- Action Moviesaction movies, action films, action scenes, action stars, explosions
- comic book elementssuperheroes, sidekicks, alter egos, secret identities, speech bubbles
- comic book topicssuperheroes, origin stories, secret identities, superpowers, graphic novels
- enemiesenemy, foe, foes, adversary, nemesis
- franchisesfranchise, Star Wars, franchising, franchises, franchisor
villainsheroes
Admired courageous figures
saints · good guys · saviors · benefactors · angels
villainsheroes
Admired courageous figures
protagonists · leading ladies · underdogs · champions · heroines
villainsheroes
Admired courageous figures
role models · paragons · idols · icons · luminaries
- comic book villain
- masked villainAntagonist hiding their identity
- Bond villainSpy's criminal adversary
- James Bond villainSpy movie antagonist archetype
- hero and villainStory's moral poles
- villain monologueAntagonist's expository speech
villain, villainy, villainous, villainess, super-villain, villainize, villainously, villainies, archvillain