evil

1 of 3

adjective

ˈē-vəl How to pronounce evil (audio)
 British often and US sometimes  ˈē-(ˌ)vil
eviler or eviller; evilest or evillest
1
a
: morally reprehensible : sinful, wicked
an evil impulse
b
: arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct
a person of evil reputation
2
a
archaic : inferior
b
: causing discomfort or repulsion : offensive
an evil odor
c
: disagreeable
woke late and in an evil temper
3
a
: causing harm : pernicious
the evil institution of slavery
b
: marked by misfortune : unlucky
evilly
ˈē-və(l)-lē How to pronounce evil (audio)
 British often and US sometimes  ˈē-(ˌ)vi(l)-
adverb
evilness
ˈē-vəl-nəs How to pronounce evil (audio)
 British often and US sometimes  ˈē-(ˌ)vil-
noun

evil

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing
b
: a cosmic evil force
2
: something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity

evil

3 of 3

adverb

archaic
: in an evil manner

Examples of evil in a Sentence

Adjective She drank an evil potion. The city has fallen on evil days. It was an evil omen. Noun the battle of good versus evil our free will allows us to choose between good and evil
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Millions of people around the world celebrate the Persian festival of Yalda, which marks the sunrise after the longest night of the year, said to be the night evil forces held the most power. Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 Much like 2014’s Ouija, a group of tedious teens unleash an evil entity haunting a specific set of tarot cards. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
The show felt joyously anarchic and kind of evil at the same time. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 19 Dec. 2024 As the film’s wealthy Pennsylvania industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren, Pearce creates a psychologically penetrating portrait of a man who is by turns generous and predatory, inquisitive and closed off, someone who ultimately reveals himself to be capable of true evil. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for evil 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English yfel; akin to Old High German ubil evil

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of evil was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near evil

Cite this Entry

“Evil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evil. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

eviler or eviller; evilest or evillest
1
: morally bad : wicked
2
a
: causing harm : tending to injure
b
: marked by misfortune
evil days

evil

2 of 2 noun
1
: something that brings sorrow, trouble, or destruction
2
: the fact of suffering or wrongdoing

More from Merriam-Webster on evil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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