Meaning & use
bad actor
A person, group, or entity that behaves dishonestly, maliciously, or harmfully, especially online or in business.
See it in a sentence
The company blocked the bad actor's account after detecting repeated attempts to steal user data.
Regulators warned that a few bad actors could undermine trust in the entire industry.
A note on using this word
Bad actor is common in cybersecurity and business contexts and does not refer to a performer; it means someone acting in bad faith.
Words with a similar meaning
malicious actorwrongdoer
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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