Word
villainy
Phoneticsvil·lainy
UK/vˈɪləni/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. very bad or cruel behaviour — the kind of things a villain does, like lying, cheating, or hurting others.
n. wicked or criminal behaviour characteristic of a villain. Often implies deliberate cruelty or dishonesty for personal gain.
Examples
“The story shows his villainy from the very start.”
“The newspaper exposed the mayor's villainy after finding proof that he took bribes from builders.”
“The novel traces her slow slide into villainy, showing how small selfish choices grow into cruelty that even she no longer recognizes.”
Examples
simple
“The story shows his villainy from the very start.”
contextual
“The newspaper exposed the mayor's villainy after finding proof that he took bribes from builders.”
complex
“The novel traces her slow slide into villainy, showing how small selfish choices grow into cruelty that even she no longer recognizes.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “villainy” in context.
Verb
01. condemn villainy
“World leaders condemned villainy and demanded justice for victims.”
verb + noun
02. denounce villainy
“The editorial denounced villainy and called for tougher sentencing.”
verb + noun
03. descend into villainy
“Once an idealist, he descended into villainy for money and power.”
verb + prep + noun
04. expose villainy
“The investigation exposed villainy at the highest levels of the company.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. comic villainy
“The film delights audiences with its light touch of comic villainy.”
adj + noun
06. dastardly villainy
“The tyrant in the play is remembered for dastardly villainy and betrayal.”
adj + noun
07. petty villainy
“Stealing colleagues' lunches is petty villainy, not serious crime.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. act of villainy
“Betraying his allies was an act of villainy he never regretted.”
noun + prep + noun
09. history of villainy
“The regime has a long history of villainy and oppression.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a tale of comic villainy
“The film is a tale of comic villainy featuring a bumbling thief.”
11. an act of sheer villainy
“Falsifying the test results was an act of sheer villainy.”
12. descend into petty villainy
“The dispute descended into petty villainy with anonymous threats.”
Real-World Examples
“It's not just treachery and villainy - the soundtrack for Traitors helps set the show's campy tone.” Etymology
From Middle English vileinie, vileynye, from Anglo-Norman vilenie, from Old French vilanie.
From villain + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/villainy