The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word REPROBATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
R
E
P
R
O
B
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result REPROBATE
- Agent with habit fed by volunteers turned rogue
- Soldiers will copy someone depraved
- Discount housing for criminal
- Villain concerned with what’s needed to get hold of legacy
- Rake in money coming back that expert divides
- Record loot hoarded by rank villain
- Villain concerned with investigation about a contract’s conclusion
- Degenerate salesman worried about rifle
- Unprincipled soldiers given test of will
- Put another way, bore apt to follow first signs of roguish excess?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Villain" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case villain = reprobate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does REPROBATE mean?
REPROBATE noun- One rejected by God; a sinful person.
- An individual with low morals or principles.
- Rejected; cast off as worthless.
- Rejected by God; damned, sinful.
- Immoral, having no religious or principled character.
- To have strong disapproval of something; to reprove; to condemn.
- Of God: to abandon or reject, to deny eternal bliss.
- To refuse, set aside.