villainy

noun

ˈvi-lə-nē How to pronounce villainy (audio)
Definition of villainynext
as in evil
that which is morally unacceptable psychologists and sociologists have tried to discover the roots of such unspeakable villainy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of villainy The terrific Scottish actor David Tennant provides the season 1 villainy as a man able to puppeteer others using his voice. — David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026 Eidinger brings sorely needed spark to these miserable proceedings; his profile of sociopathic villainy is, unfortunately or not, the most electric aspect of the film. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 Navarrette highlights the complex moral questions, asserting Bear's villainy for continuing the relationship despite Nikki's lack of control, sparking significant audience discussion. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 While Embo didn’t have much screen time, he can be glimpsed among the scum and villainy in a handful of episodes including Season 2 Episode 17, Season 5 Episode 14 and Season 6 Episode 5. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for villainy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for villainy
  1. evil
  2. bad
  3. badness
Noun
  • Commissioned by Mattel as a blatant weekly half-hour commercial for its popular toy line, the show pits He-Man and his heroic chums against the evil (but strangely inept) Skeletor in a battle for control of Castle Grayskull.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026
  • During the War for Independence, the tribe saw the British as the lesser of two evils.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • In addition to public goods, AI will also create public bads.
    — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
  • Naturally, the meeting is a flop because no one was prepared, and their spontaneous ideas are frankly fireable-offense bad (a baguette bag shaped like a baguette for Paris?
    — Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Definition of bad
Noun
  • On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.
    — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
  • The show premiered over Thanksgiving weekend, when people were tired and full and bored (and probably also horny), and countered our world’s unceasing badness with its world’s buoyant sweetness.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of badness

Browse Nearby Words

villains
villainy
villanelle
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Cite this Entry

“Villainy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/villainy. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on villainy

Nglish: Translation of villainy for Spanish Speakers

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