Skip to main content
evil

evil

1.2
Being very bad and morally wrong, often causing harm to others
  • adjective
  • /ˈiːvəl/
translation icon : malvado
  • An evil warlord ruled the land.
  • good and evil
  • evil acts
  • evil spirit

OK, what do you call an evil non Bostonian?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The belief is that good and evil co-exist, and both have their own roles.

    Academic text (1999)
  • It's truly evil, and it has to stop.

  • In Russia, there is an evil scheme to destroy the peace of the Earth.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The theme is, do you have to be evil to be a great leader?

  • To protect you from evil thoughts, my dear.

  • This is where the real good and the real evil for human beings exist.

  • I think he is crude, evil, vicious, vindictive, drunk.

  • You've got an evil look in your eye, Shinji.

  • The evil sorcerer plotted to take over the kingdom.

  • In the story, the hero must face an evil monster threatening the village.

Synonyms

wrong
vsevil
1.0

Not morally right or acceptable

stresses active harm and wickedness beyond mere wrongness
bad
vsevil
1.0

Morally wrong or harmful to other people

is a stronger term focusing on clear moral harm
ugly
vsevil
268 4.9

Very bad or offensive in a moral way

is the stronger moral term that stresses causing harm
wicked
vsevil
149 4.6

A person or action that is very bad and cruel

is the broader moral label including harm and wickedness
immoral
vsevil
144 4.6

Not following what most people think is right or wrong

adds the idea of causing harm or wicked intent
heinous
vsevil
  • Formal
92 9.0

Extremely cruel and shocking

is broader, covering moral wrongness of any degree
demonic
vsevil
91 8.1

Extremely evil and cruel, as if caused by the devil

describes moral wrongness without supernatural implication
malicious
vsevil
89 5.8

Wanting to hurt someone or damage their good name

covers harmful acts even without clear intent to hurt
vicious
vsevil
71 4.9

Morally wrong or deserving strong criticism

focuses more on causing harm rather than public criticism
sinful
vsevil
56 3.6

Wrong according to religious or moral rules

is the secular moral idea not tied to religious sin
nefarious
vsevil
  • Formal
47 8.8

Very bad and illegal, done to harm people

is the general moral term not limited to crime
diabolical
vsevil
44 8.2

Very evil and cruel, like a devil

is the everyday moral category, not necessarily devilish
malevolent
vsevil
22 8.0

Wanting to harm others

includes harmful nature but also broader moral wickedness
ungodly
vsevil
21 7.2

Morally wrong because it goes against religious rules

is the general moral term without a religious frame
unholy
vsevil
20 6.3

Extremely cruel and evil, like something from hell

is the secular moral term without religious or hellish sense
villainous
vsevil
14 7.3

Very bad and cruel, often hurting other people

is the wider moral term not tied to a villain role
malign
vsevil
  • Formal
4 7.6

A harmful, evil force that causes people or things to suffer

focuses more on moral blame and deliberate wrongdoing
iniquitous
vsevil
  • Formal
2 9.8

Very unfair and wrong in a way that harms people

is a general moral term including ordinary wrongdoing
diabolic
vsevil
1 7.8

Very evil and cruel, like the devil

is the plain moral label without devilish imagery
malefic
vsevil
  • Formal
1 9.9

Being harmful or evil to people and things

centers on moral wrongs that actively cause damage
evil-minded
vsevil
1 7.5

Wanting to hurt people or cause harm

covers moral wrongness more broadly, not only intent
flagitious
vsevil
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very wicked and criminal act that shocks people

is the general moral concept including lesser wrongdoing

Antonyms

1.0

Behaving in a kind and honest way

35 4.3

Being morally good and doing what is right

Idioms

To protect people from bad luck caused by a jealous look using charms

Compounds

evil spirit
  • Literature
41 6.8

A ghost or invisible being people believe causes harm and bad luck

necessary evil
  • Informal
14 5.4

A bad thing you must accept to get a better result

11 6.8

A person who looks like another but behaves badly

evil eye
  • Literature
9 7.2

A look that people think causes harm or bad luck

1 5.3

A person or thing that looks dangerous and likely to cause harm

1 6.5

A problem in society that harms people or the community

chaotic evil
  • Jargon
9.1

A person who does cruel, unpredictable acts and ignores rules

evil twin
  • Jargon
8.1

A fake Wi-Fi network that copies a real one to steal data

king's evil
  • Archaic
9.9

A disease that makes the glands in the neck swell

How Evil

heinous
  • Formal
92 9.0
wicked
149 4.6
evil
1.2
bad
1.0
wrong
1.0

Surface Forms

evil positive
eviler comparative
evilest superlative

Etymology

Evil comes from the old English word yfel, which meant 'bad' or 'harmful' and is related to the modern word ill. So evil describes people or actions that are morally wrong or that cause harm.