Meanings
present singular third person villainizes · participle present villainizing · participle past villainized · past villainized · alternative villainise
- transitiveTo represent as a villain.
Managers and leaders villainize those who interfere with their needs and desires — those who do not support the organization. Workers and outsiders villainize managers and leaders for not sharing benefits and rewards created by business.
1997, Richard H. Reeves, Business, commerce, and social responsibility: beyond agendaSynonyms: demonize, monsterize, vilify, assassinate, asperse, backbite, badmouth, befoul
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo represent as a villain.
Origin
Cite this entry
villainize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainize
“villainize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainize. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “villainize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainize.
Source: villainize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.