adjective

evil

EE-vuhl

adjective

Deeply immoral and cruel; deliberately intending to cause harm.

"The story's villain is a genuinely evil character with no redeeming qualities."

"It was an evil act, committed with no remorse."

Unpleasant or unlucky, in a milder, informal sense.

"That coffee has an evil aftertaste."

noun

Moral wickedness, or the force believed to cause suffering and wrongdoing in the world.

"The film explores the nature of good and evil."

"People argued over whether the policy was a necessary evil."

How to Use Evil

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDeeply bad or wicked — either describing a person/act (adjective) or wrongdoing itself (noun).

Common pairings

evil intentions necessary evil good versus evil

Word Forms

eviller comparative, eviler comparative, more evil comparative, more evil comparative, evils plural, evillest superlative, evilest superlative, most evil superlative, most evil superlative

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The story's villain is a genuinely _____ character with no redeeming qualities.

Etymology

From Old English yfel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch euvel and German übel, all meaning "bad" or "evil."

Synonyms

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nefarious malicious malevolent wicked abandoned arrant bad bad apple baleful bad seed scurrilous baneful

Antonyms

good angelic benign good-minded just moral well-intentioned righteous

Related Words

abandoned accurate right good very bad OK cruel

Rhymes for evil

devil weevil daredevil

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