villainization

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noun

The process of making somebody into a villain.

Scrabble 26
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Meanings

nounvillainization (countable and uncountable, plural villainizations)

plural villainizations · alternative villainisation

  1. countableuncountableThe process of making somebody into a villain.

    The villainization of Dukakis was now complete: damned when he did, and damned when he didn't.

    2000, John E. McDonough, Experiencing Politics, page 137

Origin

From villain + -ization.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

villainization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainization

MLA

“villainization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainization. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “villainization,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainization.

Source: villainization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.