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Definitions

bad guy

[bad gahy] / ˈbæd ˌgaɪ /
NOUN
villainous or criminal person
Synonyms
STRONGEST
antagonist antihero bad person baddie baddy cad knave miscreant scoundrel villain
STRONG
con convict criminal crook felon gangster gunman hoodlum lawbreaker offender robber thief wrongdoer
WEAK
bad actor malefactor reprobate rogue ruffian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They said he gave less direct feedback than Lasseter and seemed to never want to be the bad guy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

Asked for his reaction to Bolton's indictment, Trump told reporters his former aide is a "bad guy" and "that's the way it goes."

From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025

It can be dangerous but the performance side of it… I'm a good waffler on the mic... making people believe you're the bad guy or the good guy.

From BBC • Aug. 23, 2025

And make no mistake: Nate is the bad guy.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 2025

But he’s moved on to how he’s not a bad guy, I should know this, and he cares a lot about his girls.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.