Villainous

Villainous is an adjective describing actions, traits, or characters that pertain to a villain or are villain-like. It can describe moral wrongdoing, cruelty, or malicious intent, and is commonly used to characterize deeds, plans, or expressions such as a villainous act or a villainous grin. In some contexts it can refer to objects or atmospheres associated with villainy, though this usage is less common.

Etymology: The word derives from villain, which entered English via Old French vilain, from Latin villanus, originally meaning a farm laborer or serf; over time the sense shifted toward a morally bad person. The suffix -ous forms an adjective indicating a quality or state. The sense of "villainous" as 'evil or wicked' has been in English since the early modern period.

Usage notes: Villainous is typically used in reference to fictional characters, particularly in fantasy, adventure, and detective genres, but it can also describe real acts or individuals when a strong moral judgment is intended. The term is often reinforced by collocations such as "villainous deed," "villainous scheme," or "villainous grin." It is distinct from somewhat milder terms like wicked or evil, and it is sometimes used for stylistic or emphatic effect.

In popular culture, Disney Villainous is a board game released in 2018 by Ravensburger in which players take on the roles of various Disney villains and work toward personal objectives while opposing rivals. The game has received expansions and has contributed to the modern visibility of the term in gaming contexts.

See also: villain, villainy, nefarious, malevolent.