evil 1 of 2

noun

Definition of evilnext
as in bad
that which is morally unacceptable our free will allows us to choose between good and evil

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

evil

2 of 2

adjective

ˈē-vəl How to pronounce evil (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
This week's $20 billion secondary stock offering is a necessary evil to help fund those efforts while protecting the balance sheet. — Kevin Stankiewicz,morgan Chittum, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026 But there’s still goodness here, in this small place, in the ground underneath us, in those who fight the evil spreading through the rest of the world. — Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
In that last story, Holmes and the evil professor wrestle at a cliff’s edge in Switzerland. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 But the most important factor distinguishing Jonestown from the other left-wing movements of its time was a singularly evil leader. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for evil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evil
  1. bad
  2. harmful
  3. immoral
  4. ugly
  5. wrong
  6. dangerous
  7. unlawful
  8. disgusting
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
  • Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Beneficial bacteria also provide colonization resistance, competing with harmful microbes for nutrients and attachment sites while producing substances that inhibit their growth.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmful
Adjective
  • When Russians embrace the Eurasian narrative, they are also engaged in the political project of rejecting Europe and the West, which Putin and his allies deride as decadent, declining, and immoral.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In the realms of art, literature, film, and television, words and images that would once have been considered indecent, offensive, or immoral are now commonplace, especially in the West.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • The animation is truly ugly, the characters moving at the framerate of a PowerPoint and looking less like the animals they’re supposed to be than weird hybrid troll creatures.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The wrong paint color, outdated furniture, and yes, even an ugly light fixture could be aging your home and (ugh) majorly cramping its style.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of ugly
Noun
  • The tired, the sick, the hungry, the famous and tons of ex-boyfriends, all regretting their wrongs.
    — Courtney Love, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Mosser has not come to the negotiating table just yet, but Richardson says his office is determined to fix a wrong.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • The desert’s location on the southern border has led to many migrants attempting to cross it by using dangerous backcountry routes, the experts said.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Rather, this is a dangerous, shape-shifting synthetic entity that ravaged their entire planet.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • The party also viewed Yabloko’s stance on Ukraine as unlawful and tantamount to calling for the violation of Russia’s territorial integrity.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The duo and two others, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat, were hit with the worst charges — felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and other related offenses.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • This whole situation is discriminatory, disgusting, and quite frankly, Orwellian.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That it’s populated with disgusting creatures and monsters, Jackson’s forté, doesn’t hurt.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of disgusting

Browse Nearby Words

evidently
evil
evildoer
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Cite this Entry

“Evil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evil. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of evil for Spanish Speakers

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