ringleader; accomplished villain; cunning leader
Refers to a bold, ruthless, and cunning person who leads others in wrongdoing or rebellion. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts. Not an everyday word; carries a literary or slightly archaic flavor.
He is known as a cunning leader of the Warring States period.
That politician was called a ringleader of the political world.
Composed of 梟 (owl, symbolizing ferocity and cunning) and 雄 (male, hero, leader). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination suggests a fierce, dominant figure.