evil

[ ee-vuhl ]

adjective

1. morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked:

   evil deeds;

   an evil life.

   Synonyms: nefarious, vile, base, corrupt, vicious, depraved, iniquitous, sinful

   Antonyms: righteous

2. harmful; detrimental:

   evil laws.

   Synonyms: destructive, pernicious

3. characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous:

   to be fallen on evil days.

4. due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character:

   an evil reputation.

5. marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.:

   He is known for his evil disposition.

noun

1. that which is evil; evil quality, intention, or conduct:

   to choose the lesser of two evils.

   Synonyms: baseness, unrighteousness, corruption, iniquity, depravity, wickedness

2. the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin.
3. the wicked or immoral part of someone or something:

   The evil in his nature has destroyed the good.

4. harm; mischief; misfortune:

   to wish one evil.

   Synonyms: sorrow, suffering, misery, woe, calamity, disaster

5. anything causing injury or harm:

   Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.

6. a harmful aspect, effect, or consequence:

   the evils of alcohol.

7. a disease, as king's evil.

adverb

1. in an evil manner; badly; ill:

   It went evil with him.

evil

/ ˈiːvəl /

adjective

1. morally wrong or bad; wicked

   an evil ruler

2. causing harm or injury; harmful

   an evil plan

3. marked or accompanied by misfortune; unlucky

   an evil fate

4. (of temper, disposition, etc) characterized by anger or spite
5. not in high esteem; infamous

   an evil reputation

6. offensive or unpleasant

   an evil smell

7. slang.
   good; excellent

noun

1. the quality or an instance of being morally wrong; wickedness

   the evils of war

2. sometimes capital a force or power that brings about wickedness or harm

   evil is strong in the world

3. archaic.
   an illness or disease, esp scrofula (the king's evil )

adverb

1. now usually in combination in an evil manner; badly

   evil-smelling

Derived Forms

• ˈevilly, adverb
• ˈevilness, noun

Other Words From

• evil·ly adverb
• evil·ness noun
• non·evil adjective
• non·evil·ly adverb
• non·evil·ness noun
• quasi-evil adjective
• quasi-evil·ly adverb
• un·evil adjective
• un·evil·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of evil¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English evel, evil, Old English yfel; cognate with Gothic ubils, Old High German ubil, German übel, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch evel

Word History and Origins

Origin of evil¹

Old English yfel, of Germanic origin; compare Old Frisian evel, Old High German ubil evil, Old Irish adbal excessive

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. the evil one, the devil; Satan.

Example Sentences

“I lived in New York for seven years, and in those seven years, the Yankees won the World Series four times. And I was miserable the whole time. That really just hardened my soul. My soul in this area is black and tarred over. I have no empathy. It’s the only place in my life where I feel really dark and evil.”

From Los Angeles Times

The most critical point is simple: Corporate media refuses to understand that its own power and influence are the reason millions of Americans believe lies about immigrants, crime-ridden cities and evil, traitorous Democrats.

From Salon

“Charlie was very good at being evil and not showing it,” says Mr Kaufman in the series teaser.

From BBC

That willingness to defend and indeed celebrate evil is no doubt a major factor in Hegseth’s rise; so too is his prominent jawline — he just looks like a military guy, which very much matters to a president who owes his rise to television — and the fact, too, that he is a relative nobody: "Who the f**k is this guy?" one defense lobbyist asked Politico.

From Salon

Although Wilson will always be associated with the gullible and weaselly Dwight Schrute on NBC’s “The Office,” and Mandvi recently won a devoted fan following for his portrayal of the science-minded skeptic Ben Shakir in “Evil” on Paramount+, both men refer to theater as their first — and biggest — love.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• calamity
• catastrophe
• corruption
• crime
• harm
• hatred
• ill
• misery
• pain
• sin
• suffering
• wrong