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Definition of villainize

villainize

/ˈvɪl.ə.naɪz/
(UK: villainise)
vil · lain · ize
Adverb:villainously
•
Adjective:villainous
•
Past Simple:villainized
•
Past Participle:villainized
•
Present Participle:villainizing
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villainize Lexical Profile

villainize Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To portray, characterize, or treat someone or something as a villain or as wicked and blameworthy.

Example

"The media coverage tended to villainize the whistleblower rather than address the underlying corporate misconduct."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for villainize
Antonyms
View all antonyms for villainize

• Nearby Words

villahermosa
villain
villainess
villainize
villainous
villainy
villarrica

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 17th century from 'villain' (derived from Old French 'vilain', meaning a feudal serf or peasant, from Late Latin 'villanus', a farmhand working on a country 'villa') combined with the verbal suffix '-ize'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Villainize. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/villainize
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