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Glite Dictionary
antiheroic

antiheroic

8.1
A character who does not act bravely or help others
  • adjective
  • /ˌæntiˈhɪrɔɪk/
  • Literature
translation icon : antiheroico
  • The film's main character was intentionally antiheroic, challenging the norm of heroic morality.

Examples

  • The antiheroic stance has obvious ethical and political implications that are brought out sharply in The Chinese Wall, a play that inveighs against the dangerous yearning for heroes in our era of mass destruction.

    Academic text (1993)

  • This identity is, in the main, antiheroic.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The comic hero, or comic protagonist, as Morreall prefers, is antiheroic, and the emphasis is on human limitations and frailties.

    Academic text (2002)

  • In modern literature, antiheroic figures often resonate more with audiences than traditional heroes.

  • Many popular TV shows feature antiheroic leads who exhibit flawed characteristics and complex motives.

Synonyms

unheroic
vsantiheroic
1 5.7

Not showing bravery when facing danger

deliberately rejects those qualities as a conscious stance
nonheroic
vsantiheroic
6.1

Not showing great bravery or special strength of character

deliberately rejects heroic traits as an intentional opposition to nobility

Antonyms

heroic
154 3.8

Shows great courage when facing danger or difficulty

How Heroic

heroic
154 3.8
antiheroic
  • Literature
8.1
unheroic
1 5.7

Surface Forms

antiheroic positive

Morphology

antiheroic = heroic (semi-transparent) = anti + hero + ic

The form is built transparently from anti- + heroic, but the resulting literary/film sense is somewhat specialized rather than fully literal.

Etymology

Antiheroic is made from anti- meaning 'against' and hero meaning 'a brave or ideal person'. So it describes a character or action that is against being a typical hero and instead shows ordinary or flawed behavior.