evil

1 of 3

adjective

ˈē-vəl 

 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 

 British often and US sometimes  ˈē-(ˌ)vi(l)-

adverb

evilness

ˈē-vəl-nəs 

 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

Synonyms

Adjective

• adverse
• bad
• baleful
• baneful
• damaging
• dangerous
• deleterious
• detrimental
• harmful
• hurtful
• ill
• injurious
• mischievous
• nocuous
• noxious
• pernicious
• prejudicial
• wicked

Noun

• bad
• evildoing
• ill
• immorality
• iniquity
• sin
• villainy
• wrong

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

Adjective

Last season followed the travails of five disparate high schoolers who must band together to survive the outbreak of evil forces from a creepy local home where a teen once died in a fire. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025

Artists proving no tyranny, no matter how evil or total, can extinguish our desire for self-expression. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Noun

All our sufferings must therefore be lesser evils that somehow serve to bring about a greater good. —Anthony Gottlieb, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

It was seen as a temporary evil while balancing between the West and the Soviet Union. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing evil

• evil eye
• evil-minded
• king's evil
• the evil eye

Kids Definition

evil

1 of 2 adjective

ˈē-vəl 

eviler or eviller; evilest or evillest

1

: morally bad : wicked

2

a

: causing harm : tending to injure

b

: marked by misfortune

evil days

evilly

-vəl-(l)ē 

adverb

evil

2 of 2 noun

1

: something that brings sorrow, trouble, or destruction

2

: the fact of suffering or wrongdoing