World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesAntihero
/ˈæn.tiˌhɪə.roʊ/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes and instead possesses complex, flawed, or morally ambiguous traits.
"The television series features an antihero who makes morally questionable decisions while trying to protect his family." - 2
A protagonist who embodies disillusionment, vulnerability, or cynicism rather than traditional nobility.
"Modern noir fiction often relies on the disillusioned antihero to explore the darker aspects of society."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Coined in English by combining the prefix 'anti-' (derived from Greek 'anti' meaning against or opposite) with the noun 'hero' (derived from Greek 'hērōs'). First recorded in the mid-20th century, the term emerged to describe central characters in literature and drama who lack conventional heroic attributes such as idealism, morality, and nobility.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Antihero"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Antihero" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
anti-héros
Transliteration: ɑ̃.ti e.ʁo
"Ce roman met en scène un anti-héros complexe et attachant."
Antiheld
Transliteration: ˈantiˌhɛlt
"Der Protagonist ist ein klassischer Antiheld der modernen Literatur."
antieroe
Transliteration: an.ti.eˈrɔ.e
"Il film racconta la storia di un affascinante antieroe."
antihéroe
Transliteration: an.tiˈe.ɾo.e
"El antihéroe de la película lucha contra sus propios demonios."
anti-herói
Transliteration: ã.ti.eˈɾɔ.i
"Ele interpreta um anti-herói cínico, mas de bom coração."
प्रतिनायक
Transliteration: pratināyak
"आधुनिक कहानियों में प्रतिनायक का चरित्र बहुत लोकप्रिय हो गया है।"
反英雄
Transliteration: fǎn yīngxióng
"这部电影的主角是一个典型的反英雄。"
안티히어로
Transliteration: anti-hieoro
"그 소설의 주인공은 매력적인 안티히어로입니다."
アンチヒーロー
Transliteration: anchi hīrō
"近年の映画では魅力的なアンチヒーローが人気です。"
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