Antiheroes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who challenge conventional heroic ideals while performing notable deeds
2. Figures that blur the lines between good and evil through their actions, embodying unconventional traits
3. Characters who lead stories without the classic virtues of heroes but still drive the plot and engage audiences

Etymology: "Antiheroes" is the plural of "antihero," a compound formed in English from the prefix "anti-" and "hero." The prefix comes from Ancient Greek "anti," meaning "against" or "opposite," while "hero" derives from the Greek "heros," a term for a demigod or legendary warrior. Put together, the word describes a protagonist who lacks the nobility, courage, or moral purity that the traditional hero embodies. The plural form matters here, since the term is most often used for a group of such characters across a body of work, such as the morally compromised leads of crime dramas or the reluctant champions of modern fiction. Because the word is built transparently from familiar parts, its meaning is easy to read: it names a hero defined by what he or she is not.

Synonyms: flawed heroes, tragic heroes, unconventional heroes

Antonyms: heroes, protagonists