villainize

V4I1L1L1A1I1N1I1Z10E1

verb

To represent as a villain.

Scrabble 22

Meanings

verbvillainize (third-person singular simple present villainizes, present participle villainizing, simple past and past participle villainized)

present singular third person villainizes · participle present villainizing · participle past villainized · past villainized · alternative villainise

  1. 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 agenda

    Synonyms: demonize, monsterize, vilify, assassinate, asperse, backbite, badmouth, befoul

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

villainize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainize

MLA

“villainize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainize. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “villainize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/villainize.

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