villainy
Sinister deeds done
Villainy is the abstract noun for an act or behavior that is characteristic of a villain.
Villainy suggests intentional and malicious wrongdoing: The movie’s plot features several twists and turns, but the central villainy is clear from the start.
Moral corruption or evil
- malevolenceActive ill will
- depravityProfound moral corruption
- iniquityMoral wrongdoing, grave injustice
- maliceIntent to cause harm
nefarious · heinous · vile · diabolical · sinister · fiendish · monstrous · atrocity
One who opposes another
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- archenemyPrincipal antagonist
- evildoerOne who causes harm
- wrongdoerPerson who misbehaves
malefactor · scoundrel · fiend · monster · supervillain · mastermind · henchman · minion
Breaking of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- treasonBetraying one's nation
perfidy · disloyalty · subterfuge · conspiracy · intrigue · manipulation · guile · duplicity
Unlawful taking of property
- robberyTheft through intimidation
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
assault · burglary · larceny · extortion · blackmail · smuggling · forgery · hijacking
Deliberate deception or fraud
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- pranksPlayful mischievous acts
- rogueryDishonest or mischievous conduct
- devilryWicked or mischievous conduct
sabotage · shenanigans · impishness · cunning · rascal · scoundrel · knave · rogue
Unjust exercise of power
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- autocracyRule by one
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
domination · subjugation · repression · authoritarianism · cruelty · persecution · brutality · iron-fisted
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
cronyism · malfeasance · profiteering · fraud · dishonesty · sleaze · payola · scandal
Indication of potential harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- dangerExposure to harm
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
dread · peril · fearmongering · coercion · harassment · stalking · ominous · foreboding
wickedness
Moral corruption or evil
- malevolenceActive ill will
- depravityProfound moral corruption
- iniquityMoral wrongdoing, grave injustice
malice · nefarious · heinous · vile · diabolical · sinister · fiendish · monstrous · atrocity · darkness
antagonist
One who opposes another
wrongdoer · malefactor · scoundrel · fiend · monster · supervillain · mastermind · henchman · minion · lair
betrayal
Breaking of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
treason · perfidy · disloyalty · subterfuge · conspiracy · intrigue · manipulation · guile · duplicity · sedition
theft
Unlawful taking of property
kidnapping · assault · burglary · larceny · extortion · blackmail · smuggling · forgery · hijacking · racketeering
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
devilry · sabotage · shenanigans · impishness · cunning · rascal · scoundrel · knave · rogue · scamp
oppression
Unjust exercise of power
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- autocracyRule by one
totalitarianism · domination · subjugation · repression · authoritarianism · cruelty · persecution · brutality · iron-fisted · ruthless
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
nepotism · cronyism · malfeasance · profiteering · fraud · dishonesty · sleaze · payola · scandal · crooked
threat
Indication of potential harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- dangerExposure to harm
hostility · dread · peril · fearmongering · coercion · harassment · stalking · ominous · foreboding · sinister
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- comic themesheroism, secret identity, origin story, super strength, sidekick
- dark sideinner demons, shadow self, dark thoughts, inner demon, secret self
- themesgood vs evil, theme, love, motif, revenge
- vicesgreed, envy, lust, gluttony, vanity
- comic book ethicsgood vs evil, justice, redemption, sacrifice, heroism
villainyvirtue
Moral goodness or merit
goodness · righteousness · morality · integrity · uprightness
villainyheroism
Exceptional courage under duress
heroics · gallantry · valor · chivalry · noble deeds
villainybenevolence
Disposition toward doing good
kindness · beneficence · altruism · charity · compassion
- 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