Synonyms of evil

evil 1 of 2

noun

as in bad

that which is morally unacceptable

our free will allows us to choose between good and evil

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bad
• wrong
• evilness
• badness
• sin
• sinfulness
• villainy
• immorality
• ill
• evildoing
• iniquity
• darkness
• wickedness
• vileness
• satanism
• diabolism
• corruption
• heinousness
• atrocity
• devilishness
• devilry
• enormity
• canker
• decay
• fiendishness
• rot
• cancer
• perversion
• squalor
• depravity
• abomination
• degeneracy
• depravedness
• scurrility
• iniquitousness
• balefulness
• atrociousness
• indecency
• debauchery
• malefaction
• taboo
• anathema
• pervertedness
• scurrilousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• right
• morality
• virtue
• good
• goodness
• integrity
• decency
• honesty
• rectitude
• righteousness
• uprightness
• probity
• virtuousness

evil

2 of 2

adjective

ˈē-vəl 

1

as in harmful

causing or capable of causing harm

drank an evil potion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harmful
• dangerous
• detrimental
• damaging
• adverse
• bad
• wicked
• poisonous
• pernicious
• hazardous
• infectious
• injurious
• baneful
• mischievous
• deleterious
• noxious
• hurtful
• prejudicial
• ill
• baleful
• destructive
• hostile
• deadly
• nocuous
• sinister
• venomous
• unsafe
• insidious
• infective
• lethal
• ominous
• unfriendly
• threatening
• menacing
• inimical
• risky
• contagious
• malignant
• pestilential
• perilous
• fatal
• killer
• unwholesome
• pestiferous
• pestilent
• unhealthy
• unhealthful
• ruinous
• unsound
• nasty
• noisome
• parlous
• imperiling
• jeopardizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benign
• innocent
• harmless
• safe
• beneficial
• innocuous
• good
• useful
• advantageous
• inoffensive
• favorable
• healthy
• wholesome
• propitious
• healthful
• helpful
• curative
• anodyne
• salutary
• sound
• remedial
• hurtless
• palliative
• salubrious
• secure
• benignant
• nonpoisonous
• nontoxic
• nondestructive
• noninfectious
• nonfatal
• nonlethal
• noncorrosive
• nonpolluting
• nonvenomous

2

as in immoral

not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable

their evil deeds rank among the worst in history

Synonyms & Similar Words

• immoral
• unlawful
• sinful
• wicked
• vicious
• vile
• bad
• dark
• villainous
• rotten
• wrong
• nefarious
• corrupt
• cruel
• obscene
• ugly
• unrighteous
• iniquitous
• infamous
• unethical
• illegal
• offensive
• unauthorized
• cursed
• unsavory
• improper
• dirty
• nasty
• condemned
• infernal
• contemptible
• naughty
• prohibited
• despicable
• forbidden
• depraved
• ill
• ignoble
• disreputable
• sordid
• perverted
• pernicious
• sick
• ungodly
• dishonest
• mean
• atrocious
• objectionable
• reprehensible
• unwholesome
• evil-minded
• unhealthy
• fallen
• blameworthy
• degenerate
• noxious
• pestilential
• snide
• incorrect
• base
• debased
• unclean
• dissolute
• debauched
• blamable
• unscrupulous
• miserable
• censurable
• scrofulous
• libertine
• loose
• wretched
• outlawed
• unprincipled
• reprobate
• discouraged
• proscribed
• indecent
• barred
• low-minded
• unseemly
• execrable
• vulgar
• low
• dishonorable
• lousy
• erring
• errant
• disallowed
• unbecoming
• cussed
• defiling
• banned
• indecorous
• interdicted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moral
• good
• righteous
• virtuous
• ethical
• right
• honorable
• noble
• legitimate
• legal
• sublime
• high
• honest
• decent
• upright
• just
• permissible
• permitted
• lofty
• scrupulous
• reputable
• principled
• elevated
• authorized
• licensed
• correct
• endorsed
• proper
• approved
• sanctioned
• allowed
• clean
• high-minded
• promoted
• white
• pure
• decent
• supported
• innocent
• exemplary
• perfect
• blameless
• law-abiding
• encouraged
• guiltless
• wholesome
• seemly
• commendable
• creditable
• worthy
• decorous
• incorruptible
• immaculate
• unobjectionable
• chaste
• uncorrupted
• abetted
• spotless
• unerring
• irreproachable
• inoffensive
• venerable
• respected
• esteemed
• unfallen
• squeaky-clean
• lily-white
• upstanding

3

as in ugly

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

she refused to eat olives or anything which had their evil flavor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ugly
• disgusting
• horrible
• awful
• sickening
• hideous
• obnoxious
• shocking
• dreadful
• obscene
• offensive
• nasty
• unpleasant
• abominable
• loathsome
• odious
• repulsive
• abhorrent
• terrible
• horrid
• revolting
• gross
• repugnant
• appalling
• gruesome
• noxious
• horrific
• scandalous
• foul
• repellent
• horrendous
• vile
• undesirable
• distasteful
• noisome
• nauseating
• nauseous
• disturbing
• rancid
• hateful
• unwanted
• fulsome
• monstrous
• detestable
• disagreeable
• objectionable
• despicable
• miserable
• horrifying
• unwholesome
• grim
• unspeakable
• heinous
• contemptible
• unhealthy
• sick
• ungodly
• unholy
• frightful
• unsavory
• ghastly
• nightmarish
• brackish
• atrocious
• macabre
• grisly
• barbarous
• uncivilized
• dislikable
• unwelcome
• sickly
• execrable
• lousy
• exceptionable
• hard
• upsetting
• lurid
• unchristian
• sickish
• distressing
• off-putting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• acceptable
• desirable
• sweet
• attractive
• heavenly
• delicious
• pleasant
• delightful
• alluring
• inoffensive
• agreeable
• appealing
• congenial
• nice
• satisfying
• likable
• enjoyable
• dreamy
• pleasurable
• welcome
• pleasing
• blessed
• delectable
• luscious
• savory
• darling
• gratifying
• felicitous
• palatable
• inviting
• dulcet
• healthy
• unobjectionable
• wholesome
• healthful
• unexceptionable
• salutary
• restorative
• delightsome
• salubrious

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of evil

Noun

The San Francisco Ballet production, which debuted in 2024, retells the myth of Pandora, who opened the box that unleashed humanity’s evil into the world. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026

The play depends on the creeping eeriness of thinking your place of comfort has been corrupted and undercut by evil. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Adjective

But soaps demand evil twins, hence the Sybok of La’an’s imagination. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

Radha had always believed that the world was evil and people malicious. — Akhil Sharma, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026