Are you writing an intelligent and ruthless crime boss in your novel? The following 10 words to describe a criminal mastermind will help you.
1. Calculating
Definition
Engineering situations so that they work out in your favor, often to the detriment of others.
Examples
“Although at first, he had seemed well-intentioned, his motives were much more calculating than they appeared on the surface.”
“He laced his fingers together and shot a calculating grin at her over the table.”
How it Adds Description
To be a criminal mastermind, you need to be able to think up the best possible solution, usually, one that benefits you. Therefore, “calculating” demonstrates this well to show a criminal mastermind’s scheming and intelligent nature and where their true loyalties lie.
2. Callous
Definition
- Unkind and cruel.
- Lacking sympathy and having no regard for the feelings of others.
Examples
“While others recoiled away from the sight of the victim, the callous crime boss didn’t even flinch.”
“A mixture of callous punishments and a high wage packet was enough to keep their subordinates under control.”
How it Adds Description
You can show how cruel or unfeeling your criminal mastermind is by using the word “callous”. Not only does it help you to show their lack of empathy, but may lead your readers to question how the character ended up this way.
3. Cold
Definition
- Devoid of emotion.
- Unfriendly and uncaring.
Examples
“As she looked into his eyes they were as cold as the body that lay in the next room.”
“It’s nothing personal, truly. In this line of work you need to be cold to survive.”
How it Adds Description
“Cold” not only shows how your criminal mastermind interacts with people and situations, but also the atmosphere that they create. For example, their reaction to something or their expression may send a chill up another character’s spine!
4. Devious
Definition
- Getting what you want while being secretive.
- Dishonest, yet successful in being so.
Examples
“The detective couldn’t help but be a little bit impressed. The crime was heinous, yet the devious nature of it could not be denied.”
“It was thanks to being devious that he had evaded capture for all these years.”
How it Adds Description
In order to be successful, a criminal mastermind needs to be underhanded, meaning they are normally very “devious” characters! The word also implies a level of success, showing just how formidable the character is as an opponent for your protagonist(s).
5. Expressionless
Definition
Not showing how you think or feel.
Examples
“Throughout their entire conversation, the detective simply could not get a read on him. He remained expressionless from start to finish.”
“Despite the sirens getting louder and the red and blue lights closing in, his expressionless face made it seem like the game wasn’t over just yet.”
How it Adds Description
Being “expressionless” is a great trait for a criminal mastermind. It can help to show how unaffected they are by things other characters may find horrifying but also shows how in control they appear to be in situations.
6. Intense
Definition
- Extreme and forceful in presence.
- Strong in opinions and emotions.
Examples
“The henchmen’s refusal was met with an intense stare that made them immediately backtrack on their positions.”
“No one expected that his views would become so intense that he would try to destroy the world for what he believed in.”
How it Adds Description
“Intense” not only shows the strength and power of your character in relation to others, but it also helps to demonstrate their devotion to their convictions as a character. If their opinions are intense and strong enough, then they will likely stop at nothing to achieve them, making it a perfect way to describe your criminal mastermind!
7. Maniacal
Definition
- Loud or wild.
- Seeming to be of an insane nature.
Examples
“His maniacal laugh echoed around the abandoned warehouse. The detective knew he had walked right into his trap.”
“Sometimes in this line of work, it pays to be a bit maniacal. It means they never know what is coming next.”
How it Adds Description
There’s usually going to be something about your criminal mastermind in your story that makes them a little unhinged, and “maniacal” is a great way to present this! It could describe an action, such as a laugh or a movement, or show the way they approach things in a far from conventional way.
8. Manipulative
Definition
Influencing or controlling someone for your own gain, usually without their knowledge.
Examples
“Be warned, detective. The suspect is highly manipulative, do try not to trust that everything she says is true.”
“The way in which he was extremely manipulative when it came to his friends in school made the counselor worry what his future would hold.”
How it Adds Description
If there is any word for a criminal mastermind, it’s certainly “manipulative”! These characters often need to make sure that they can use others to their advantage, and be clever in doing so that they don’t suspect a thing!
9. Merciless
Definition
- Showing no mercy or kindness.
- Cruel or ruthless.
Examples
“He was merciless in his revenge against the rival gang. By the end of the day, none of them were left standing.”
“You’ll want to stay on his good side. He might seem like a nice enough guy now but he is merciless if you ever cross him.”
How it Adds Description
If your criminal mastermind is “merciless”, then your reader knows that anyone who ends up on the wrong side of them is likely to be in real danger. This can also work to your advantage when it comes to moments where they might intentionally spare someone, leaving the reader to question how they truly feel about them.
10. Suave
Definition
Attractive and polite but in a way that does not seem sincere or honest.
Examples
“He was trying his best to be suave and sophisticated, but it still made her feel a little uneasy.”
“The suave way that he carried himself in a room didn’t seem to match up with the brutal murders that he was accused of.”
How it Adds Description
If your criminal mastermind is rich or successful, then “suave” is a great way to describe them, especially as behind all the sophistication is a layer of distrust. They may also have to act in this way in order to carry out their nefarious deeds or to fit in around a certain group of people.