EVIL Synonyms: 396 Similar and Opposite Words

evil 1 of 2

noun

Definition of evil

as in bad

that which is morally unacceptable our free will allows us to choose between good and evil

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evil

2 of 2

adjective

ˈē-vəl

as in harmful

causing or capable of causing harm drank an evil potion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of evil

Noun

Given the end of the world, which is the greater of the two evils? — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026 The question reminded me of the biblical allegory of Adam and Eve and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Usually, colds hit as lesser-evil infections before influenza season takes over. — Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026 The clues lead them to the obviously evil Bellflower Chemical corporation and a clinical trial called Project Argonaut, from which Pam escaped. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for evil

Recent Examples of Synonyms for evil

Noun

In addition to public goods, AI will also create public bads.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
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

Definition of bad

Adjective

Social media giant Meta was hit with a class action lawsuit in Australia on behalf of children and teenagers who allegedly suffered harm over the addictive design features and exposure to harmful content on its platforms Facebook and Instagram.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Their contracts can run hundreds of pages, making harmful terms easy to bury.

— Emma Witman, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of harmful

Adjective

And in a world increasingly populated by people who are absolutely certain that everyone who disagrees with them is either ignorant or immoral, our universities could use considerably more of all three.

— Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Central to the exhibition is the tension between the honorable and the immoral, the appealing and the revolting.

— News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of immoral

Noun

By his own account, the call went from early to wrong to decent, and now some of his clients are calling it crowded.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
More than 45 years after the first Friday the 13th, Brad Caleb Kane is righting a wrong from the set of the 1980 slasher.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrong

Adjective

In November 2021, crew members took shelter inside their spacecraft after a Russian anti-satellite weapons test created a dangerous cloud of debris.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
In 2015, Chicago’s public health department identified three cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a highly dangerous pathogen that can kill within hours.

— Julie Morita, Time, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of dangerous

Adjective

Runa’s incarceration – and death months after her release – is now the subject of a lawsuit brought by her mother against Hyogo Prefectural Police alleging unlawful arrest and detention.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Last month, the seizure was ruled unlawful by the California Supreme Court.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of unlawful

Adjective

Comparing the administration's fight to protect women and women's spaces from males to rape, is utterly disgusting and actually devalues those atrocities and crimes against actual women.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
The squad has not been beefed up at all after a shameful and disgusting transfer window.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of disgusting

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evidently

evil

evildoer

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Evil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evil. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of evil

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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