adj
villainous
VIH-luh-nuhs
Villainous (adj) means Wicked, evil, or characteristic of a villain. Example: “He gave a villainous laugh before slamming the door.”
adj
1
Wicked, evil, or characteristic of a villain.
"He gave a villainous laugh before slamming the door."
"The plot was full of villainous scheming and double-crosses."
How to use villainous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBehaving like, or looking like, a villain — evil or nasty.
Common pairings
a villainous plot
villainous behaviour
a villainous grin
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more villainous
- Superlative
- most villainous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gave a _____ laugh before slamming the door.
Etymology
From Old French vileneus, from villain.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for villainous
See all rhymes for villainous →Frequently asked questions
What does “villainous” mean?
The word “villainous” means wicked, evil, or characteristic of a villain. In plain terms, behaving like, or looking like, a villain — evil or nasty.
How do you pronounce “villainous”?
“Villainous” is pronounced VIH-luh-nuhs (/ˈvɪlənəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “villainous” in a sentence?
Here is “villainous” used in a sentence: “He gave a villainous laugh before slamming the door.”
What is another word for “villainous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “villainous” include villainly and villainy.
What part of speech is “villainous”?
“Villainous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “villainous” come from?
The word “villainous” comes from Old French. From Old French vileneus, from villain.
