Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Morally bad or wrong: Having qualities that are profoundly immoral, wicked, or sinful.
   • Causing harm or misfortune: Having a harmful, injurious, or malignant influence or effect.

2. Noun:

   • The quality of being morally wrong: The principle or force of profound wickedness and immorality.
   • That which causes harm or misfortune: A concrete source or instance of suffering, destruction, or wrongdoing.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The dictator was known for his evil regime. (The dictator was known for his profoundly immoral and wicked system of government.)
  • They believed the old house was under an evil influence. (They believed the old house was affected by a harmful, malignant force.)

• Noun:

  • Philosophers have long debated the origin of evil in the world. (Philosophers have long debated where the principle of profound moral wrong comes from.)
  • The evil of the crime shocked the community. (The profound moral wrongness of the crime shocked the community.)

Advanced Usage

• "the lesser of two evils": The less harmful or undesirable of two bad choices or options.
  • Voting for that candidate felt like choosing the lesser of two evils.
• "to speak evil of": To say bad or malicious things about someone.
  • It is wrong to speak evil of others behind their backs.
• "the Evil One": A term used to refer to the Devil or Satan.
  • In many stories, the hero must resist the temptations of the Evil One.

Variants and Related Words

• Evildoer (noun): A person who does evil or immoral acts.
• Evilness (noun): The state or quality of being evil.
• Evilly (adverb): In an evil manner.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Wicked, malevolent, malicious, sinful, immoral, nefarious, vile.
• Noun: Wickedness, sin, immorality, malevolence, wrongdoing, iniquity.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Good, virtuous, moral, benevolent, kind.
• Noun: Good, goodness, virtue, morality, benevolence.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Money is the root of all evil.": A saying suggesting that the desire for money causes people to do bad things. (Note: The full biblical quote is "the of money is the root of all evil.")
• "To give someone the evil eye": To look at someone in a way that is believed to cause them harm or bad luck.
  • She thought her neighbor gave her the evil eye after their argument.

Adjective

1. having or exerting a malignant influence
   • malevolent stars
   • a malefic force
2. having the nature of vice
3. morally bad or wrong
   • evil purposes
   • an evil influence
   • evil deeds

Noun

1. the quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice
   • attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world
2. that which causes harm or destruction or misfortune; the good is oft interred with their bones"- Shakespeare
   • the evil that men do lives after them
3. morally objectionable behavior