as in bad
that which is morally unacceptable
our free will allows us to choose between good and evil
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
drank an evil potion
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2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
their evil deeds rank among the worst in history
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3
as in ugly
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
she refused to eat olives or anything which had their evil flavor
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of evil
Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026
The world is full of evil… BUT God is with us.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
James Piazza, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
Lucky has a change of heart and apologizes, the animals take down Napoleon and the evil capitalistic Pilkington.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for evil
Noun
In the Court’s view, such prior restraint was acceptable because motion pictures were not organs of public opinion like newspapers but instead a business, pure and simple, and one with a capacity for evil.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026
The world is full of evil… BUT God is with us.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Each side views members of the other party not as merely having a different view on politics but rather as evil or immoral.
—James Piazza, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
Lucky has a change of heart and apologizes, the animals take down Napoleon and the evil capitalistic Pilkington.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for evil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evil
Noun
-
While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads.—
Max Gao,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Reports out of fall camp haven’t been super favorable to their offense, and while the defense will, again, be top-notch, a team with this bad of an offense cannot be trusted.—
Austin Mock,
The Athletic,
19 Aug. 2024
Adjective
-
South Florida frequently sees sargassum washing ashore on its beaches, but the brown seaweed generally isn't harmful to humans.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
Companies should be required to disclose how their algorithms promote content to minors and be held responsible for knowingly amplifying harmful material, including content linked to self-harm, exploitation, or harassment.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Each side views members of the other party not as merely having a different view on politics but rather as evil or immoral.—
James Piazza,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Pope Francis changed the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.—
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The most expensive Republican primary for governor in Georgia history is still a dead heat despite a staggering avalanche of ad spending and one of the ugliest intraparty fights in recent memory.—
Greg Bluestein,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Ohm, well played by Scott who can wither with you with a look, is the classic ugly American and is rude to everyone at the hotel, but those putdowns and cruelty hides his self loathing.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two wrongs will never make a right.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
The runs were crucial for a team that hasn’t been able to score many of them this season, but this game offered a chance to right the wrongs for Scott and setup man Luke Weaver.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Gabriel Basso stars as Sutherland, a formerly low-level FBI agent who has taken on increasingly dangerous assignments as part of a counterintelligence group within the bureau called Night Action.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
4 May 2026
-
Bessent has compared the Fed's growing balance sheet to a dangerous lab experiment.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
In February of this year, a district court ruled that DHS's third-country removal practices were unlawful, but the ruling was stayed pending the government's appeal, allowing the deportations to continue.—
Julia Ingram,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Evanston police initially detained five males, and three of them were later charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office on several felony and misdemeanor counts of drug and unlawful weapon possession.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What a disgusting story all around.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Making a disgusting joke about assassinating the President #2.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Evil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evil. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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