evil

1 of 3

adjective

ˈē-vəl 

 British often and US sometimes  ˈē-(ˌ)vil

eviler or eviller; evilest or evillest

1

a

: morally reprehensible : sinful, wicked

an evil impulse

b

: arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct

a person of evil reputation

2

a

archaic : inferior

b

: causing discomfort or repulsion : offensive

an evil odor

c

: disagreeable

woke late and in an evil temper

3

a

: causing harm : pernicious

the evil institution of slavery

b

: marked by misfortune : unlucky

evilly

ˈē-və(l)-lē 

 British often and US sometimes  ˈē-(ˌ)vi(l)-

adverb

evilness

ˈē-vəl-nəs 

 British often and US sometimes  ˈē-(ˌ)vil-

noun

evil

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing

b

: a cosmic evil force

2

: something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity

evil

3 of 3

adverb

archaic

: in an evil manner

Synonyms

Adjective

• adverse
• bad
• baleful
• baneful
• damaging
• dangerous
• deleterious
• detrimental
• harmful
• hurtful
• ill
• injurious
• mischievous
• nocuous
• noxious
• pernicious
• prejudicial
• wicked

Noun

• bad
• evildoing
• ill
• immorality
• iniquity
• sin
• villainy
• wrong

Examples of evil in a Sentence

Adjective

She drank an evil potion.

The city has fallen on evil days.

It was an evil omen.

Noun

the battle of good versus evil

our free will allows us to choose between good and evil

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Eventually Edward snaps an evil vampire’s neck (happy!), but girl werewolf Leah falls into the lava to save Esme Cullen (sad!). —Wolfgang Ruth, Vulture, 1 May 2025

As if that wasn't enough trouble, evil doppelgänger Dark Samus shows up too. 5. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 1 May 2025

Noun

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

Like him, Hur Jin-ho is concerned with the fragility of moral standing and how mercurial these not-so-concrete notions of right and wrong can be when evil sleeps just down the hall. —David Opie, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English yfel; akin to Old High German ubil evil

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing evil

• evil eye
• evil-minded
• king's evil
• the evil eye

Rhymes for evil

• weevil
• coeval
• medieval
• primeval
• retrieval
• upheaval

Kids Definition

evil

1 of 2 adjective

ˈē-vəl 

eviler or eviller; evilest or evillest

1

: morally bad : wicked

2

a

: causing harm : tending to injure

b

: marked by misfortune

evil days

evilly

-vəl-(l)ē 

adverb

evil

2 of 2 noun

1

: something that brings sorrow, trouble, or destruction

2

: the fact of suffering or wrongdoing