villainy

noun

vil·​lainy ˈvi-lə-nē How to pronounce villainy (audio)
plural villainies
Synonyms of villainynext
1
: villainous conduct
also : a villainous act
2
: the quality or state of being villainous : depravity

Synonyms

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Examples of villainy in a Sentence

a story of villainy and betrayal the gruesome villainies of war
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
With all due respect to the great Patricia Arquette, the character wasn’t especially missed in her absence, as her villainy and zealotry have tended to be written in a more one-dimensional way than how Severance portrays those same broad ideas with Milchick. — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025 Despicable Me 2 In this 2013 sequel, Gru has officially retired from villainy and is now a devoted father to Margo, Edith and Agnes. — Emily Blackwood, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025 Or the constitutional dystopia in which we are now caught, beside which even the ugliest onscreen villainy pales into insignificance? — Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025 Some of the most compelling performances of Hartnett’s career, though, dip more fully into villainy. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for villainy

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of villainy was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Villainy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/villainy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

villainy

noun
vil·​lainy ˈvil-ə-nē How to pronounce villainy (audio)
plural villainies
: conduct or actions of or typical of a villain

More from Merriam-Webster on villainy

Nglish: Translation of villainy for Spanish Speakers

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