CEFR B1
saint
noun
Meaning
A person officially recognized by a Christian church as a saint, especially one of the early followers of Christ or a martyr.
Examples
- The Catholic Church canonizes saints after their death.
- She prayed to Saint Jude, the patron saint of lost causes.
Synonyms: virtuous person, holy person, saintly figure
Antonyms for saint
Antonyms of saint: learn opposite words, contrast examples, and clear usage notes for English learners.
A holy or morally exemplary person
These words contrast with moral goodness or holiness, but they do not all have the same religious meaning.
- sinner (B1): The clearest traditional religious contrast: a person understood to commit sin.
- wrongdoer (B2): A neutral word for someone who does something morally or legally wrong.
- villain (B1): A strongly negative word for an evil person, especially in stories.
- scoundrel (C1): An old-fashioned or literary word for a dishonest or dishonorable person.
An unusually kind or patient person
In everyday speech, saint often praises someone’s patience or generosity. These contrasts focus on behavior.
- selfish person (B1): Someone who puts their own interests first instead of helping others.
- impatient person (B1): Someone who quickly becomes annoyed by delay or difficulty.
- troublemaker (B2): Someone who repeatedly causes problems for other people.
- bully (B1): Someone who deliberately hurts or intimidates a weaker person.