Plural of antihero; main characters in stories who lack the traditional heroic qualities like courage or virtue, making them more realistic and complex.
From anti- (against) + hero (from Greek hērōs, a demigod or brave warrior). The term emerged in the 20th century as literature began exploring morally ambiguous protagonists who contradicted the idealized heroes of classical literature.
Antiheroes became wildly popular in modern storytelling because readers got tired of perfect, impossible characters—now we love protagonists who are selfish, flawed, and confused, just like real people, which made stories feel more honest and gripping.
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