as in bad
that which is morally unacceptable
our free will allows us to choose between good and evil
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
drank an evil potion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of evil
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Representing a fierce mythical demon or gatekeeper, the bulky figure would have warded off evil and protected the temple’s sacred space.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 June 2026
The girl from The Witch who gets on suspiciously well with an evil black goat.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for evil
Noun
For African Americans, presidential elections have almost always been exercises in lesser evils and harm reduction.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Representing a fierce mythical demon or gatekeeper, the bulky figure would have warded off evil and protected the temple’s sacred space.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026
Adjective
The movie, which recently marked its milestone 25th anniversary, also featured a perfect ensemble, including Rachael Leigh Cook as Josie, Rosario Dawson as Val and Tara Reid as Mel, as well as Alan Cumming and Parker Posey as evil Mega Records execs Wyatt and Fiona.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 June 2026
The girl from The Witch who gets on suspiciously well with an evil black goat.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for evil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evil
Noun
-
Naturally, the meeting is a flop because no one was prepared, and their spontaneous ideas are frankly fireable-offense bad (a baguette bag shaped like a baguette for Paris?—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
18 Dec. 2025
-
In times when the city's bad seems to overshadow the good, Daniels and others like him can be a guidepost for generations to come.—
Sophia Tiedge,
jsonline.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Telegram said its moderation systems remove millions of pieces of harmful content each month, including non-consensual pornography.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
-
Developing a negative self-view as a result of these harmful experiences during your formative years is not uncommon.—
Christina Balderrama-Durbin,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
These monsters—its antitheses—constitute that part of our nature that urges us to be sensible and strong, and that inclines us to see the life drive as trivial, weak, sentimental and immoral.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
-
The artist wrote that keeping silent on this kind of behavior is akin to turning a blind eye to immoral behavior.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Both state and church are also known for failing to live up to those ideals, for permitting indefensible abuses, for ugly histories.—
Joe Mathews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
-
Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Because, so far, my instincts are all dead wrong.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
18 June 2026
-
The streamer got that one wrong.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Others develop dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms because the autonomic nervous system becomes affected.—
Faye Chiu,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
-
Sometimes, the streets appear glittering; other times, seedy and dangerous.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
The filing, submitted in the San Diego County Superior Court, seeks a judge’s order to condemn and destroy the embargoed kratom products, halt ongoing unlawful manufacturing and impose civil penalties.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the court's opinion that unlawful drug use alone cannot be grounds to seek to send someone to prison and potentially force them to give up firearms for life.—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Get a room, this is disgusting!—
Daniela Avila,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
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And, to me, there’s nothing more disgusting than an airplane bathroom.—
Carita Rizzo,
Deadline,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Evil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evil. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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