big bad
noun
variants
or Big Bad
plural big bads or Big Bads
: a major villain or antagonist (as in a movie, show, or game)
When Ursula, the story's big bad, took to the screen, I would run behind the entertainment center and cover my eyes, a fact my mom loves to remind me about whenever she gets the chance.—
KT Hawbaker
KT HawbakerAs the show [Buffy the Vampire Slayer] aged, the Big Bads became more dangerous and the lessons more adult, but Buffy never gave up …—Kaitlin Thomas
Kaitlin ThomasThe Big Bad this time around is the wind mage Vaati, who has captured Zelda, and it's your quest to defeat him and prevent the unholy union of princess and evil eyeball-blob-thing.—Tony Ponce
Tony PonceExamples of big bad in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What about Lex Luthor? Lex Luthor, the big bad of the Superman franchise, has taken on several skins over the years.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Clyde, as 1923 viewers now tragically know, is one of Banner Creighton’s (Jerome Flynn) henchmen who was sent to infiltrate the Dutton family and report back for the Yellowstone prequel’s big bad, Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton).
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2025
What went into him being an ethereal big bad that still exists after the fight is over?
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Inside Rehearsals with Star T.R. Knight and More (Exclusive)
In the Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Knight portrays Victor Creel, the father of Henry Creel — who Netflix viewers know as Vecna, the show's big bad.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for big bad
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Randall Colburn, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Clyde, as 1923 viewers now tragically know, is one of Banner Creighton’s (Jerome Flynn) henchmen who was sent to infiltrate the Dutton family and report back for the Yellowstone prequel’s big bad, Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton).
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2025
What went into him being an ethereal big bad that still exists after the fight is over?
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Inside Rehearsals with Star T.R. Knight and More (Exclusive)
In the Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Knight portrays Victor Creel, the father of Henry Creel — who Netflix viewers know as Vecna, the show's big bad.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for big bad
Cite this Entry
“Big bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20bad. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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