as in bad
that which is morally unacceptable
our free will allows us to choose between good and evil
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
drank an evil potion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
evil people
evil thoughts
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of evil
Megan McCluskey, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Lucas loved the idealistic adventure reels of the ’30s and ’40s where good and evil were divided by a fresh coat of paint.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor is an evil mad scientist with plans for destruction and domination, armed with Kryptonite and a subterranean lair shared.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for evil
Noun
Rather than the epic battles of good vs. evil that ground the Skywalker saga, Andor's focus is the human cost of rebellion and harsh realities of a prolonged uprising against an authoritarian regime.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Lucas loved the idealistic adventure reels of the ’30s and ’40s where good and evil were divided by a fresh coat of paint.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Over time, the date became associated with warding off evil spirits and celebrating the end of winter.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor is an evil mad scientist with plans for destruction and domination, armed with Kryptonite and a subterranean lair shared.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for evil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evil
Noun
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While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads.—
Max Gao,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
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Reports out of fall camp haven’t been super favorable to their offense, and while the defense will, again, be top-notch, a team with this bad of an offense cannot be trusted.—
Austin Mock,
The Athletic,
19 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Along the way, it is divulged that Saw has not been protecting himself with a gas mask from the harmful rhydonium fumes.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
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These are among the many casualties of the Trump administration's decision to level a research agency that has devoted much of its energy over the past five decades to reducing people's exposure to harmful chemicals and other dangerous conditions in the workplace.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Even children and adolescents express more willingness to shun and punish moral transgressors than people who do something personally obnoxious or offensive but not immoral.—
Jen Cole Wright,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
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Regardless of what transpired between the two cast members, on or off screen, Aspen was unfairly portrayed as an immoral character.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Essence,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Heat finished with an ugly 12-34 record against opponents that finished this regular season with a .500 record or better.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2025
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Brinkley in her book describes one ugly scene when Joel, deep in his cups, ate a heap of spaghetti directly from a large pan on the stove, then vehemently kicked everyone out of the house for eating his pasta.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Chu recognizes that liberalism’s politics of neutrality is insufficient to correct history’s wrongs, which have affected different classes in obviously non-neutral ways.—
S. C. Cornell,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
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When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced Sunday night that Chubby Checker would be inducted into its ranks later this year, many fans of early rock ‘n’ roll who’d assumed that the Hall would never reach back that far again were surprised and exultant that a longtime wrong was being righted.—
A.D. Amorosi,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On April 26, flash flooding forced emergency water rescues in Duncan, Oklahoma, while dangerous flooding was reported in the cities of Norman and Moore.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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The album calls out what Young sees as dangerous overreach by corporate interests into food systems and public health.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That month, Drummond sued the board directly in the Oklahoma Supreme Court and asked it to rescind the charter contract and declare St. Isidore's establishment as a charter school unlawful.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2025
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Of note: Your Content must not be false, defamatory, misleading or hateful, or infringe any copyright or any other third-party rights or otherwise be unlawful.—
Catherine Pearson,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The fridge was smelly and disgusting before it was replaced about a week later.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2025
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Few things in this war have been more morally disgusting than the present hunt after traitors and Quislings.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Evil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evil. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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