70+ Adjectives for Villains Use the free Character Adjective Canvas below to click traits to build and save a character profile, or browse all 69 curated words.
Adjectives for villains help you write an antagonist readers love to hate. Use this list to describe menace, cunning, cruelty and ambition, whether you're building a fictional villain, a screenplay antagonist or a morally gray character.
Character Adjective Canvas Click traits to build a character profile, saved in your browser. Email it to yourself with the full Word Bank.
Curated word bank Sparklines show each word's usage in published books since 1800 (Google Books Ngram data). The dot marks the peak decade.
MenacingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SinisterUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s MalevolentUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s RuthlessUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s CunningUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s CalculatingUsage since 1800, peak in the 1980s ManipulativeUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s DeceitfulUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s TreacherousUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s CruelUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s MercilessUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s CallousUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s Cold-hearted HeartlessUsage since 1800, peak in the 1840s VindictiveUsage since 1800, peak in the 1820s SpitefulUsage since 1800, peak in the 1860s VengefulUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s WickedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1810s DepravedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s CorruptUsage since 1800, peak in the 1810s TyrannicalUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s DomineeringUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s ControllingUsage since 1800, peak in the 1940s Power-hungry AmbitiousUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s NarcissisticUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ArrogantUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s EgotisticalUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ConceitedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s VainUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s GreedyUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SelfishUsage since 1800, peak in the 1840s BrutalUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SavageUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s ViciousUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s MaliciousUsage since 1800, peak in the 1810s DeviousUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SchemingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ConnivingUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s DuplicitousUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s Two-faced UntrustworthyUsage since 1800, peak in the 1880s UnpredictableUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s VolatileUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s UnstableUsage since 1800, peak in the 1990s ObsessiveUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s FanaticalUsage since 1800, peak in the 1850s ZealousUsage since 1800, peak in the 1810s CharismaticUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s CharmingUsage since 1800, peak in the 1890s PersuasiveUsage since 1800, peak in the 2000s SeductiveUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s IntimidatingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s FormidableUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s DangerousUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s ThreateningUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ImposingUsage since 1800, peak in the 1830s ChillingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s UnnervingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s UnsettlingUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s EerieUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ShadowyUsage since 1800, peak in the 1850s EnigmaticUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s SecretiveUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s ColdUsage since 1800, peak in the 1850s DetachedUsage since 1800, peak in the 1800s RemorselessUsage since 1800, peak in the 1820s UnrepentantUsage since 1800, peak in the 2010s IrredeemableUsage since 1800, peak in the 1870s More character tools Looking for another word bank or tool? Browse every writing tool →
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